Macedonia Braces for Anti-Government Protest

A major rally against Nikola Gruevski's government, organized by opposition parties, and backed by many non-government organizations, rights movements and different groups, was set to start at 2pm Sunday in front of the government building.

The main demand of the protesters is for the government to resign over the illegal surveillance scandal revealed by the opposition.

The protesters seek the formation of a transitional government that will prepare the country for what they call free and fair elections.

It will be "the biggest ever protest rally in Macedonia" with a "civil" and a "multi-ethnic" dimension, the opposition Social Democrat leader, Zoran Zaev, told the media. For that purpose, the opposition said, party banners will be left at home.

"We will not go home until Gruevski resigns", Zaev said, adding that after the planned mass rally, a non-stop sit-in protest will maintain the pressure on Gruevski and his government.

"Some 4,600 activists have decided on their own initiative to sleep out in front of the government building and to continue the protest. Knowing that we are not the only organizers of this protest, we have decided to remain until the end, until Gruevski resigns," he continued.

Meanwhile the informal movement, "I protest", which has been organizing daily protests in Skopje, on Friday decided to join the big rally while continuing its own daily gatherings each afternoon in order to maintain the authenticity of the movement.

Student activists have also decided to join the rally. They will meet at the university campus and head towards the government building from there.

As other associations, of teachers, journalists, workers unions, NGOs and other political movements, said they would also...