The prime minister of Serbia has resigned following weeks of nationwide protests against corruption and bad governance.

Milos Vucevic announced his resignation on Tuesday, becoming the most senior official to step down since protests broke out in November and striking a blow to Serbia’s Russia-friendly ruling party.

“It is my unconditional decision to resign,” Mr Vucevic said at a press conference while appealing for calm. “It is my appeal for everyone to calm down the passions and return to dialogue.”

His departure comes after tens of thousands of people took to the streets on an almost daily basis to protest over the collapse of a roof at a railway station in the country’s second largest city, Novi Sad. The tragedy, which happened in November, killed 15 people, including several children.