Police in Serbia have arrested several people accused of allegedly plotting to overthrow the government as tensions soared ahead of a major anti-government rally planned this weekend in the capital Belgrade.

Tens of thousands of people rallied in Serbia’s capital Belgrade to pressure populist President Aleksandar Vucic to call an early parliamentary election after nearly eight months of protests that have rattled his firm grip on power in the Balkan country.

Around 140,000 protesters rallied in Belgrade, the largest turnout in recent months, as student-led demonstrations mount pressure on the populist government to call early elections.