Thousands of anti-government protesters marched again in Serbia on Monday with baton-wielding riot police chasing them in downtown Belgrade, prompting Serbia's populist President Aleksandar Vucic to reiterate his pledge of a planned major crackdown against the demonstrators.

Serbian police officers threw tear gas and charged against protesters as tensions escalated between authorities and anti-government protesters in the capital. The country has been gripped by protests since November,

Serbia's police used tear gas and crowd control vehicles on Friday evening in Belgrade to disperse anti-government protesters who threw firecrackers and flares at police officers in a third day of clashes.