Zoran Zaev

Thousands of protestors demanded the resignation of Macedonia's Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and his cabinet on Sunday.

Thousands of people have arrived in Skopje to join the protest rally called by the Macedonian opposition on Sunday with demands for the resignation of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevsku.

The protest action in front of the government headquarters, led by opposition Social Democrats (SDSM) of Zoran Zaev, is backed by several civil organizations.

More than 20,000 people rallied in Macedonia's capital on Sunday to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski's government which is grappling with a deep political crisis and an outbreak of violence.    

Macedonia's opposition was set to lead a major rally on May 17 in the troubled Balkan country, as the conservative government grapples with a deep political crisis and an outbreak of violence.

Thousands of people are expected to seek the resignation of Macedonia's Conservative Prime Minister Nikola Gruevsku during a protest rally in Skopje on Sunday.

According to opposition Social Democrat leader Zoran Zaev, some 70,000 people are expected to join the rally.

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 opposition Social Democrats' leader Zoran Zaev on Saturday presented what he said were taped recordings of officials that expose Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski's hypocrisy over Skopje's bitter dispute with Greece, which claims the name Macedonia as its own.

The President of the Party of European Socialists (PES) Sergei Stanishev will attend the large anti-government protest organised by the Macedonian opposition, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday.

Opposition Social Democrats, SDSM leader Zoran Zaev told a press conference on Friday that after the planned mass rally, a non-stop sit-in protest will maintain the pressure on Gruevski and his government.

Ali Ahmeti, the main coalition partner to PM Nikola Gruevski's government in Macedonia, has openly called on citizens to attend peaceful protests.

"All of you, take to the streets to protest on Sunday," BGNES wire service quotes him as saying in an interview with Alsat-M TV channel.