A student-led strike in Serbia on Friday closed down numerous businesses and many people didn’t go to work as populist President Aleksandar Vucic planned a big rally to counter growing anti-government protests that have challenged his grip on power.

In Belgrade, schools, theatres, and more shut down amid protests after a railway station roof collapse in November killed 15 people. Demonstrators accuse corruption and demand justice, while the government denies responsibility.

"We have to talk to those children and they have to go to school. As for the students, despite everything, I invite them to a dialogue and to tell us what is not fulfilled. Come and tell us. Tell us publicly what exact request is not fulfilled", called the president.

Thousands of young people took to streets across Serbia on Friday, after student protest organisers called for a general strike over the fatal collapse of a train station roof in November.

Protesters have blocked traffic daily across Serbia to protest the deaths of 15 people killed when a concrete canopy collapsed at Novi Sad railway station in November. View on euronews

Many schools, bookstores, theatres and bars in Serbia's capital Belgrade and some other parts stayed shut on Friday in the latest anti-government protest triggered by a railway

Protests marches were held Friday in Belgrade, Novi Sad, the southern city of Nis and other smaller cities — even in Jagodina before Vucic’s arrival. “Things can’t stay the same anymore ...

A woman has rammed a car into a crowd of anti-government protesters in Serbia's capital and injured one of them as a student-led strike shut down businesses and drew thousands of people to demonstrations around the country.

It happened during a student-led strike which shut down businesses and drew tens of thousands of people to demonstrations around the country.

Protests marches were held Friday in Belgrade, Novi Sad, the southern city of Nis and other smaller cities — even in Jagodina, a ruling coalition stronghold, ahead of Mr Vucic’s arrival.

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP ... held a big afternoon rally with thousands of supporters in the central town of Jagodina, his coalition stronghold, to counter the persistent anti-government protests ...

(AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) University students call for a general strike after more than two months of protests over the collapse of a concrete canopy that killed 15 people, in Belgrade ...