Protests turned violent in Macedonia late Wednesday after the country's president issued a pardon terminating all criminal proceedings against conservative former prime minister Nikola Gruevski, his security chief, and several members of his cabinet, according to AP. Thousands of opposition supporters gathered in the capital Skopje for a second day to demand the resignation of President Gjorge Ivanov. Police said at least 12 people were arrested and a reporter was injured after protesters smashed the ground floor windows of a building where the president has his offices. Ivanov issued pardons for 56 people from both the ruling parties and the opposition Tuesday, citing the need for national reconciliation. The country's official gazette on Wednesday said mayors, businessmen and judges were among those pardoned, as well as opposition leader Zoran Zaev. The pardons were issued ahead of early elections on June 5, called after months of political crisis triggered by wiretapping and corruption scandals.
