BELGRADE, May 18, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Saturday told a rally that gathered thousands of his supporters that he was "done" with students' demands for early elections.

The Balkan nation has been shaken by six months of student-led protests sparked by the deaths of 16 people when a railway station roof collapsed in the northern city of Novi Sad.

On Saturday, addressing his supporters in the southern city of Nis, Vucic said in a message to students: "No more your demands, I'm not interested in your demands, we are done with your demands."

"The story is over," he said.

Several thousand people, local media reported, gathered at the rally of the movement for the people and state, led by Vucic's nationalist Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).

Public outrage over the railway station deaths -- widely seen as a result of deep-rooted corruption -- has fuelled the largest wave of unrest in Serbia since the 1990s.

Students have been demanding accountability for the tragedy, prosecution of those who attacked protesters, dismissal of charges against arrested students and an investigation into the alleged use of a sound cannon during a demonstrations in March.

But last week they shifted gears and called for early parliamentary elections. Vucic said then that they "won't wait long" although he did not propose a date.

On Saturday, he said elections would be held when "competent institutions make a decision", adding that the ruling coalition would win with even better results than previously.

When parliamentary elections were last held in December 2023, the ruling nationalist party claimed victory and Vucic dismissed opposition allegations of fraud.

On Saturday, Vucic repeated his claim that foreign powers were seeking a "colour revolution".

"Billions euros were invested into Serbia destruction," he said.

Protests in Serbia have prompted the prime minister's resignation and the fall of the government.

A new government, led by political novice Djuro Macut a medical doctor who is now prime minister, was elected by parliament in mid-April.