Vucic: Foreign powers interfered in Serbia

Speaking to reporters after calling parliamentary elections, Vucic said the country went through what he called "great turbulence" over the past year and a half but did not specify what he meant.

Serbia has been rocked by student-led anti-regime protests for almost 2 years following the collapse of a concrete canopy at Novi Sad Railway Station which claimed 16 lives. Protesters faced police brutality and violence from regime supporters.

"It would be wrong to conclude that this was the result of conflicts between political parties or political players here in Serbia. We had riots and clashes and have a divided society through significant interference by foreign powers," he said.

Vucic claimed to have "called political rivals to a dialogue countless times".