GENERAL VIEW OF MAIN SQUARE IN NIS DURING PROTEST AGAINST YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT, 2000-05-26 (photo)

General view of main city square in southern Serbian town of Nis, during anti-government rally organized by movement Otpor (Resistance) May 26. Some 7,000 opposition supporters gathered in centre demanding an end to state repression and urging opposition politicians to come up with a more effective strategy against Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. The Serbian government on Thursday restricted entry to all universities during the examination period and banned any kind of assembly in a move seen as an attempt to counter students' plans to organise a general university strike and sit-in. Serbian Orthodox bishops came out in support of the students, urging the authorities to refrain from any violence against them, B2-92 radio reported, quoting a synod statement. Police on Friday detained 11 people who tried to visit an Otpor activist being held in prison in the central town of Pozarevac, Milosevic's home. IM/