BELGRADE, Serbia, Sept 2, (AP): Several thousand people rallied Sunday in the Serbian capital, accusing the populist government of cracking down on environmental activists opposed to a large European Union-backed lithium excavation project planned in the Balkan country. The protest outside the headquarters of the state RTS television station in central Belgrade comes after tens of thousands rallied in recent weeks against the opening of the lithium mine in western Serbia.

The state-controlled TV station is accused of ignoring the detentions of anti-lithium excavation activists. Environmental organizations reported detentions of dozens of their activists after a big rally last month in Belgrade and elsewhere in Serbia, saying their homes were searched, laptops and phones confiscated while many faced threats on social media.

Activist Nina Stojanovic told the crowd on Sunday that a total of 30 to 60 people have been detained or questioned in the past two months throughout Serbia. "We are here to protect everyone, to protect human rights and to be with each other,” she said. "We have to fight and we can do it." Environmental groups say the planned lithium mine in the Jadar valley near the border with Bosnia would cause permanent damage to the environment in the area, including drinking water reserves and fertile land.

Officials argue that lithium mining is a prime chance for economic growth for the developing Balkan country. Populist President Aleksandar Vucic has said the protests were part of a Western-backed ploy to orchestrate his ouster. Serbian police have said they detained people who blocked a highway and a railway line after the protest in Belgrade on Aug 10, citing disruption of public law and order.