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.

The protest in the country's capital was peaceful until a group of young people, believed to be soccer hooligans, split from the crowd and hurled rocks at ruling party's downtown offices, breaking front windows.

The riot police soon appeared on armored trucks, dispersing the crowd and triggering a panicky escape by many.

Serbia has been gripped by protests since November, when a train station canopy collapse killed 16 people.

Many blamed the tragedy on poor renovation work resulting from widespread corruption in infrastructure projects. 

The student-led protests had been largely peaceful for months but turned violent last week.

The situation has put pressure on Serbia’s increasingly autocratic president Vucic, who has refused the protesters’ demand to call an early parliamentary election. 

On Sunday he announced tough measures against anti-government protesters following days of riots in the streets throughout Serbia.

On Monday, he reiterated his claims that months of persistent protests against his rule have been orchestrated in the West and aimed at destroying Serbia.

“Our country is in grave danger, they have jeopardized all our values, normal life, each individual,” Vucic said.

AP video shot by: Marko Drobnjakovic