Tens of thousands rally in Slovakia, demand early election

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia – Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters have rallied across Slovakia to demand an early election to resolve a political crisis set off by the slayings of an investigative journalist and his fiancee.

Protesters took to the streets for the third straight Friday despite Thursday's resignation of Prime Minister Robert Fico and his government. Those at the rallies blame Fico and the three-party coalition that will still stay in power of widespread corruption.

Last week they demanded a though investigation into the shooting deaths of Jan Kuciak and Martina Kusnirova in the biggest anti-government protest since the 1989 Velvet Revolution that toppled the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia.

Kuciak was reporting on alleged Italian mafia ties to Fico associates.

On Friday, protesters chanted "Early elections!" Many called for a general strike.