Crowds urge Serbia gun changes

Crowds in the tens of thousands have taken to Serbia's streets to demand change after two mass shootings last week claimed at least 17 lives.

Demonstrators urged Serbia's government to improve security measures and ban violent content on television shows. They also called on ministers to resign over the handling of gun control in the southeastern European nation. Some also called for tabloid newspapers to be put out of business for allegedly promoting violent and vulgar content.

The largest protest was held in the nation's capital, Belgrade, and featured a banner reading 'Serbia Against Violence'. Several other cities also saw large demonstrations.

One of those taking part, Borivoje Plecevic, told the Reuters news agency he wanted to make it clear to the government change was needed.

"We have gathered here to pay our last respects, to do our best so this never happens again, anywhere," Plecevic said.

The protesters were stung into action after two horrific incidents. In the first, a student allegedly took two handguns to school on Wednesday, killing eight students and a security guard and injuring seven others. In the second incident, a 21-year-old man allegedly used an assault rifle and handgun on Thursday to kill eight people and hurt 14 others.

Both alleged shooters are in custody in the nation of 6.8 million people.

President Aleksandar Vucic said in the wake of Monday's demonstrations that many protesters were politically motivated and wanted to use the tragedies to try to oust him and his ruling populist Serbian Progressive Party.

"I will continue to work and I will never back down before the street and the mob," he told a Serbian TV station while vowing to make changes. "Whether it will be a reshuffle of the government or (snap) election, we shall see."

Vucic said he plans to "disarm" Serbia by cracking down on both legal and illegal firearms. As part of that, the police have announced a one-month amnesty for people handing over illegal weapons, with more than 1,500 reportedly turned in on the first day.

Serbia has a deeply entrenched gun culture, with many people owning legal guns and many others in possession of illegal weapons that were left over from wars that tore apart the former Yugoslavia during the 1990s. The Small Arms Survey research group said it believes the nation has the highest rate of gun ownership in Europe, with 39 weapons for every 100 people.

The Guardian newspaper said Monday's anti-gun protests culminated in a gathering in front of Parliament, where elementary school teacher Marina Vidojevic said: "We are here because we can't wait any longer. We've waited too long, we've been silent too long, we've turned our heads too long."