Students attend outdoor parties in Serbia despite rules

Thousands of university students gathered late on Sunday at outdoor parties at their campuses to celebrate a student holiday.

At one campus in the capital Belgrade, throngs of young people could be seen standing close together and dancing, many without face masks despite the ongoing pandemic.

Serbian media have reported that only a small numbers of university students are willing to get vaccinated amid widespread conspiracy theories and anti-vaccination propaganda.

After vaccinating some 1.5 million people, the Balkan nation of 7 million has seen the drive slow down as fewer people have stepped forward to receive jabs.

Most people have received China's Sinopharm vaccines, followed by Pfizer-BioNTech, Russia's Sputnik V and AstraZeneca.

On Monday the country eased measures against the coronavirus despite high numbers of infections and the slowdown in vaccination.

Bars and restaurants are allowed to serve guests outside at reduced capacity and with respect of social distancing rules.

Authorities have said the move is aimed at keeping the economy running.