Demonstration Turns Violent In Belgrade

The scene of peaceful protests for weeks, the streets of Belgrade suddenly turned violent and bloody Tuesday: The demonstrators traded blows with supporters of President Slobodan Milosevic, and then were clubbed by riot police.

At least one person was shot by a gunman standing in a crowd of Milosevic backers.

The clashes dramatically escalated tensions after four weeks of what have been relatively peaceful opposition demonstrations against Milosevic and his annulment of Nov. 17 local elections in places where his Socialists lost.

Milosevic had all but programmed Tuesday’s battle by urging supporters to rally at the same site where the opposition has been protesting daily for more than a month.