Student protesters block Branko's Bridge in Belgrade

BELGRADE - Student protesters blocked Branko's Bridge - one of the key thoroughfares in Belgrade - on Wednesday afternoon, which resulted in extremely congested rush hour traffic on the city's Gazela Bridge.

Branko's Bridge, which connects the old part of the Serbian capital and New Belgrade, is blocked on both sides.

Earlier, the protesters said they would be blocking the bridge from 3 pm to 6 pm in support of primary and secondary school teachers who have gone on strike.

Blowing whistles, the protesters carried Serbian flags and flags of their university faculties, as well as banners, some of which read: "A Rebelling University - You Should Be Rebelling, Too," "Mechanical Engineering Students Against The Machinery" and "Future Educators Are Here."

Earlier, the students gathered on several locations in the old part of Belgrade and New Belgrade and then marched to the bridge.

Streets on their itinerary were closed to traffic, which was redirected by police.

Commenting on an announcement of the three-hour blockade, Serbia's caretaker PM Milos Vucevic said it would only punish the citizens and solve nothing, and called on the protesters to engage in dialogue with institutions.

Groups of students have been blocking university buildings since late November, staging protests and traffic blockades with groups of other citizens and demanding the fulfilment of four demands.

The students are refusing to speak with representatives of institutions, while government officials say the demands have been met.