Serbian farmers and striking university students have united to block a major traffic intersection in Belgrade for 24 hours on Monday, escalating their protest against the government, reports AP.

This action follows weeks of demonstrations demanding accountability for a tragic canopy collapse in Novi Sad last November that claimed 15 lives.

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Farmers driving tractors and thousands of citizens joined the blockade, which has become a significant challenge to Serbia's populist government, accused of corruption linked to the deadly accident.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, speaking alongside Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic, called for dialogue with the students, urging them to "lower tensions and start talking to each other."

The students have previously refused to meet with Vucic, arguing that the president does not have constitutional authority to engage in talks with them.

Vucic acknowledged the crisis's economic impact, stating, "Any kind of a crisis poses a serious problem for our economy," and noted that such unrest harms everyone.

The president has faced accusations of limiting democratic freedoms, despite Serbia's formal bid for European Union membership. He also suggested that foreign forces may be behind the student protests in an effort to destabilise his government.

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Recent weeks have seen violent incidents at protests, including drivers deliberately driving into crowds, injuring two young women. To prevent further violence, traffic police secured the student blockade on Monday.

At the protest site, which blocks a crucial traffic route, students set up tents and engaged in various activities, such as playing volleyball and sitting on blankets. They also held a 15-minute daily moment of silence at 11:52 a.m., the exact time the canopy collapsed in November.

Many Serbs believe the collapse was caused by poor reconstruction, linked to government corruption. Prosecutors have charged 13 individuals, including a government minister and state officials.

However, doubts have been raised about the investigation’s integrity, as former construction minister Goran Vesic was released from detention. The renovation of Novi Sad’s main railway station, which had been carried out in collaboration with Chinese state companies, has been controversial.