Europe

Bosnian Serbs rally for and against government in Banja Luka

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Bosnian Serb people wave flags during a demonstration in Banja Luka, Bosnia, on Saturday, May 14, 2016. Tens of thousands of people are rallying in separate demonstrations for and against the regional Bosnian Serb government in the city Banja Luka. The pro-EU Alliance for Changes is accusing the Bosnian Serb government of corruption and its leader Milorad Dodik of dictatorship, saying he has brought the region to the brink of financial collapse. Dodik's camp is accusing the opposition of betraying Bosnian Serb national interests. (AP Photo/Amel Emric) (The Associated Press)

Bosnian Serb people flash three fingers, the Serbian Orthodox sign, during a demonstration in Banja Luka, Bosnia, on Saturday, May 14, 2016. Tens of thousands of people are rallying in separate demonstrations for and against the regional Bosnian Serb government in the city Banja Luka. The pro-EU Alliance for Changes is accusing the Bosnian Serb government of corruption and its leader Milorad Dodik of dictatorship, saying he has brought the region to the brink of financial collapse. Dodik's camp is accusing the opposition of betraying Bosnian Serb national interests. (AP Photo/Amel Emric) (The Associated Press)

Bosnian Serb people flash three fingers, the Serbian Orthodox sign, during a demonstration in Banja Luka, Bosnia, on Saturday, May 14, 2016. Tens of thousands of people are rallying in separate demonstrations for and against the regional Bosnian Serb government in the city Banja Luka. The pro-EU Alliance for Changes is accusing the Bosnian Serb government of corruption and its leader Milorad Dodik of dictatorship, saying he has brought the region to the brink of financial collapse. Dodik's camp is accusing the opposition of betraying Bosnian Serb national interests. (AP Photo/Amel Emric) (The Associated Press)

Tens of thousands of people are rallying in separate demonstrations for and against the regional Bosnian Serb government in the city Banja Luka.

Participants in the two protests are being kept apart by police barricades to prevent them from clashing.

The pro-EU Alliance for Changes is accusing the Bosnian Serb government of corruption and its leader Milorad Dodik of dictatorship, saying he has brought the region to the brink of financial collapse.

Dodik's camp is accusing the opposition of betraying Bosnian Serb national interests.

Both sides brought thousands of supporters by busses to Banja Luka on Saturday to show each other in numbers who has more popular support. Opposition supporters held banners saying "You will all go to jail" while Dodik's supporters carried pictures of Dodik and Vladimir Putin.