The miners refused to go back to work after meeting with Yugoslavia's military chief of staff. About 50,000 students march toward Milosevic's official residence in the suburb of Dedinje but riot police convince them to return to the centre of Belgrade. Wednesday, October 4 Yugoslavia's highest court invalidates parts of the election although details as to which parts are annulled are not released. If parts of the election must be repeated, it would buy Milosevic more time. Police take over key parts of a coal mining complex after attempting to break up the strike there, but miners and more than 10,000 supporters remain there.
People begin to gather in Belgrade for a rally planned for tomorrow.
The rally is expected to draw more than one million people. Thursday, October 5 Dozens of people are injured in Belgrade as police and protesters fight with bullets, tear gas, batons and rocks. Protesters manage to storm several government offices, capture the state-run media and set fire to the parliament building. They destroy furniture and computers and throw pictures of Milosevic out the windows. Celebrations break out with singing and dancing in the streets after the police retreat from the area.