Serb protesters set US embassy on fire

The US embassy in Belgrade burns after masked attackers broke into the building and set an office on fire following a massive protest in the Serbian capital against western-backed Kosovo independence.
Photograph: AP Photo

Serbia: Serb protesters stormed and set alight the US embassy in Belgrade last night following a 200,000-strong rally to denounce Kosovo's western-backed declaration of independence.

Dozens of masked men ripped metal grilles off the windows of the embassy, which was not guarded by Serb police. The violence - which spilled over to other embassies and included widespread vandalising of shops and banks - marred the mass state-backed rally by Serbs refusing to accept the loss of their religious heartland Kosovo.

Having entered the American embassy some men hurled furniture and documents out of windows and set part of the building ablaze, while others appeared on the balcony and replaced the stars-and-stripes with a Serbian flag. In the street below, other protesters chanted "Serbia, Serbia" until riot police arrived and dispersed them with tear gas. It was not clear why the embassy was not guarded, having been identified as the likely flashpoint for violence. Early reports said at least 30 people were injured in clashes, half of them policemen.

Washington demanded a swift response from Belgrade, where leaders have found rare unity in condemning Kosovo's sovereignty and recognition of it by the US and major EU nations. "We are in contact with the Serbian government, to ensure that they devote the appropriate assets to fulfil their international obligations to help protect diplomatic facilities, in this case, our embassy," said US state department spokesman Sean McCormack.

"There is some number of Serbian citizens who are on part of the embassy compound, in the consular building area." The violence flared as a peaceful protest was ending with a huge "prayer for Kosovo" gathering at Belgrade's main Orthodox cathedral, involving senior churchmen and politicians.

"Kosovo is Serbia's first name. Kosovo belongs to Serbia. Kosovo belongs to Serbian people. It has been like this forever and it will be like this forever," nationalist prime minister Vojislav Kostunica told the crowd earlier in the day.

"If we, as Serbs, give up our Serbian roots, Kosovo and history, then who are we?" In Banja Luka, the capital of Bosnia's Serb region, riot police used tear gas to subdue a mob that splintered off from a 2,000-strong protest against Kosovo's independence.

On the fledgling state's frontier with Serbia, about 400 suspected Serb army veterans or reservists were faced down by around 100 Nato peacekeepers after attacking them for 20 minutes with rocks and burning tyres.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times