Serbia: Drivers halt rush hour traffic over fuel price hikes

BELGRADE, Serbia – Drivers in several Serbian cities stopped their cars on busy locations during the afternoon rush hour in a protest over soaring fuel prices.

Friday’s protests in the capital city of Belgrade and other cities were organized through social networks. It halted traffic for about an hour on a hot and sunny afternoon, forcing some people to walk home from work.

In Belgrade, people could be seen crossing the bridges on foot alongside kilometres-long lines of cars.

Drivers are angry that fuel prices in crisis-ridden Serbia have reached some 1.3 euros per litre ($1.6), with the state collecting more than 50 per cent in taxes.

The government has blamed the hikes on global markets, since Serbia imports most of its oil.

The average salary in Serbia is about 450 euros ($530).