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.

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.

Tens of thousands rally in Serbia to call for early parliamentary elections Aerial video shows a huge crowd of people gathered at a rally in Serbia's capital, Belgrade, on Saturday aimed at pressuring populist President Aleksandar Vucic to call an early parliamentary election.