​​​​​​ATHENS

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico said Thursday that some opposition groups want to topple the government through riots.

Fico warned about the presence of groups that want to abuse popular rallies to escalate tensions and eventually topple the government, according to public broadcaster Tasr TV.

“It's very simple, they will try to start some kind of skirmish, then there will be attempts to get over the fences into the buildings of the government office, the National Council, the Presidential Palace, then you will witness these protesters being taken away by the security forces,” he said after a National Security Council meeting.

“There will not be 20 cameras like now, but 1,740 cameras from all over the world. The image of the Slovak government will be created that it is fascist, violent because it maintains order and does not want to allow an attack on the constitutional order.”

“Sorry, we will not let our country be destroyed,” said Fico, adding that he respects the opposition’s right to demonstrate but it would not allow it to be abused.

He said some tangible proof of his arguments were presented during the council’s meeting.

The council also recommended that the cabinet adopt necessary preventive measures and security and intelligence agencies continue to monitor the situation.

Fico said Slovakian foreign policy orientation remains unchanged with the Western bloc, responding to the opposition’s claims that the government wants to take the country out of NATO and the EU.

“This government has never taken and will not take any steps that concern Slovakia's foreign policy orientation, let alone steps that would question our membership in the European Union and NATO," he said.

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