Sat, Jul 04 2009
At least 51 police officers and 34 civilians have been injured in Serb protests that have followed the proclamation of Kosovo's independence over the past 2 days, the Serbian interior ministry said, as quoted by Bulgarian news agency BTA and Dnevnik daily on February 20.
The Serbian interior ministry called upon all citizens to express their discontent with Kosovo's self-proclaimed independence "in a peaceful and dignified manner", sending a special appeal to sports clubs and their fans, notorious for their violent outbursts, to cooperate with the police in keeping order and protecting private property.
The Serb demonstrations damaged several buildings, including the diplomatic and consular representations of the USA, Canada, Slovenia, Turkey and Iran, but also 10 McDonald's restaurants, 52 shops and four party headquarters. Dozens of cars have also been vandalised, Dnevnik daily reported.
Prime Minister Vojislav Kotunica and President Boris Tadić have both called for an end to street violence, which they say is detrimental to the country, Serbian radio station B92 reported.
Ataka and Order Law and Justice parties stage symbolic blockades at Bulgaria’s borders with Turkey on eve of July 5 2009 parliamentary election, while reports record influx of would-be voters and, it is claimed, flights are being chartered from Turkey.
In a blow against a problem that has been plaguing Bulgaria’s elections, State Agency for National Security and Interior Ministry say several people in a ‘major criminal organisation’ have been arrested for vote-buying, on the eve of the July 5 vote.
Barometer Info survey on July 3 2009, just ahead of the eve of Bulgaria’s national parliamentary elections, gives GERB 27.05 per cent and Sergei Stanishev’s Coalition for Bulgaria 19.09 per cent.
The exact number of people sacked from duty out of the 600 who refused to go to work on Monday is undisclosed, although reports claim that as of June 3 at least four people were told they were surplus to requirements.
Open your mind and face the unknown: the 2009 general elections in Bulgaria.