THOUSANDS of people set up street blockades in Serbia on Sunday as they demonstrated their anger over the arrest of anti-government protesters who clashed with police at a massive rally a day earlier.

Protesters put up metal fences and skips at various locations in the capital Belgrade, also blocking a key bridge over the Sava river. 

Protesters in the northern city of Novi Sad pelted the offices of the ruling populist Serbian Progressive Party with eggs.

Serbian media said similar protest blockades were organised in smaller cities across the country.

Sunday’s protesters demanded the release of dozens of university students and other protesters who were jailed for attacking the police or for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government at Saturday’s rally in Belgrade.

Clashes with riot police erupted after the official part of the rally ended. 

Police said on Sunday that 48 officers were injured while 22 protesters sought medical help. Out of 77 people detained, 38 were held in custody a day later, most of them facing criminal charges, said Interior Minister Ivica Dacic.

President Aleksander Vucic slammed “terrorists and those who tried to bring down the state,” singling out University of Belgrade’s head dean, Vladan Djokic, who was among the protesters.

“There will be more arrests,” President Vucic said. “Identification of all individuals is underway.”