Tens of thousands of people rallied in rival demonstrations for and against the government of Bosnia’s autonomous Serb Republic in its capital Banja Luka on Saturday (May 14).<br /><br /> An alliance of opposition parties organised the anti-government rally as part of efforts to bring down the government of nationalist leader Milorad Dodik, who is the President of Republika Srpska, one of Bosnia Herzegovina’s two constitutional entities.<br /><br /> The opposition accuses the Bosnian Serb government of corruption and dictatorship, and blames it for the region’s depressed economy. Tensions run high ahead of local elections in October.<br /><br /> Both camps brought in supporters by bus. Authorities banned them from marching across the city and the protests were kept apart by police barricades to prevent clashes.<br /><br /> Politically explosive<br /><br /> Political tensions in the Serb Republic have risen since elections in 2014, when the ruling party of President Milorad Dodik lost its place in the Bosnian government to the Allianc
