Novi Pazar

Five men have been arrested in the town of Novi Pazar, southwestern Serbia, on charges of rape.

They are being held in police custody for up to 48 hours this Thursday, the Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti has reported.

The police in Raska have shot a man in the leg after he attacked them with a machete, as they were attempting to serve a court summons.

The Beta agency reported this on Friday, quoting Novi Pazar-based Radio Sto Plus.

NOVI PAZAR - Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has said there will be a new push to privatize loss-making state firms if he wins the election on Sunday.
    

Municipal flood alerts have been declared in 12 more municipalities in Serbia - Novi Pazar, Kraljevo, Topola, Pozega, Bajina Basta, Ivanjica, Raska, Ljig, Raca, Kosjeric, Prijepolje and Trstenik.

Serbia's Interior ministry declared that around 710 households have been affected and that 118 people have been evacuated.

Serbian PM Aleksandar Vucic and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu have canceled their visit to the town of Novi Pazar in southwestern Serbia.

The two prime ministers and Chairman of Bosnia's Council of Ministers Denis Zvizdic were supposed to hold a meeting there.

NOVI PAZAR - Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said Monday that he is ready to discuss open issues with the Bosniaks in Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Police in Bulgaria's northeastern Shumen Region have arrested four people suspected of illicit possession of and trading in archaeological artefacts.

As BGNES news outlet reported on Tuesday, police have found 19 marble and stone slabs and sculptures as well as ancient coins and moulds for production of fake coins at the homes of the suspects.

Party wants ministers sacked in wake of tragedy

BELGRADE -- The Social-Democratic Union (SDU) on Monday asked for defense and health ministers in the Serbian government to be "urgently dismissed."

BRUSSELS - EU Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn has extended condolences to the families and friends of Serbia's helicopter crash victims.

"I am sending my condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the tragic helicopter crash in Serbia. My thoughts are with them," the commissioner posted on his Twitter account.

Thousands march against Muhammad cartoons

NOVI PAZAR -- About 5,000 people in Serbia's southwestern town of Novi Pazar on Friday took part in a peaceful protest against cartoons depicting Islamic prophet Muhammad.

Novi Pazar is the largest town in the Raska District, also known informally as Sandzak, that is home to a large Muslim minority.