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US embassy in Belgrade attacked
Attack on US embassy in Belgrade
Police were not guarding the embassy at the time
Several hundred protesters have attacked and broken into the US embassy in the Serbian capital Belgrade, setting fire to part of it.
The embassy was closed and unprotected at the time. Reports say the Croatian embassy was also attacked.
The incidents came as at least 150,000 people rallied in protest at Kosovo's declaration of independence.
Protesters with flags and flares filled the main square. PM Vojislav Kostunica said Kosovo would always be Serbian.
Earlier, on Serbia's de facto border with Kosovo, Serb army reservists attacked Kosovan police with stones and set fire to tyres.
Most Serbs consider Kosovo their religious and cultural heartland.
Prayers
US state department spokesman Sean McCormack said a number of Serbians had penetrated the embassy compound, and urged the authorities to take control of the situation.
There is a great feeling of sadness, not anger - we want it to be a peaceful protest, we want to show the world that Kosovo belongs to Serbia
Jelena Subin
In pictures: Belgrade rally
A blaze broke out in several rooms inside the compound.
One protester is reported to have climbed onto the first floor and ripped the US flag from its pole.
Riot police backed by armoured cars fired tear gas at the protesters.
The incidents came towards the end of the main demonstration, outside the parliament.
Protester Jelena Subin told the BBC it felt as if there were a million people at the Belgrade rally.
"There is a great feeling of sadness, not anger. We want it to be a peaceful protest. We want to show the world that Kosovo belongs to Serbia," she said.
Mr Kostunica addressed the crowds from a large stage, draped in two huge Serbian flags and with a banner reading "Kosovo is Serbia" at the back.
Rally in central Belgrade
The main rally outside parliament was peaceful
"As long as we live, Kosovo is Serbia," he said to cheers and applause. "Kosovo belongs to the Serbian people."
"We'll never give up Kosovo, never!" the crowd responded.
"Is there any other nation on Earth from whom [the great powers] are demanding that they give up their identity, to give up our brothers in Kosovo?" he added.
Ultra-nationalist leader Tomislav Nikolic accused the US and EU of trying to steal Kosovo.
"We will not rest until Kosovo is again under Serbia's control," he said.
Kosovo map
"Hitler could not take it away from us, and neither will today's [Western powers]."
Other speakers included Australian Open tennis champion Novak Djokovic, who addressed the crowd by video link.
After the speeches, the crowd marched to the city's biggest church, the Temple of Saint Sava.
Border protest
There was thick, black smoke billowing from the crossing point at Merdare, 50km (30 miles) north-east of Kosovo's capital Pristina.
KOSOVO PROFILE
Population about two million
Majority ethnic Albanian; 10% Serb
Under UN control since Nato drove out Serb forces in 1999
2,000-strong EU staff to take over from UN after independence
Recognised by US, UK, Germany, Italy and France
Not recognised by Russia, Spain, Slovakia, Cyprus
Nato to stay to provide security
Country profile: Kosovo
Tense confusion on border
Serbs waved large tricolour Serbian flags, chanted "Kosovo is Serbia" and tried to cross the border.
"We are here in support of the Serbs who still live in Kosovo," Dejan Milosevic, one of the organisers, told the Associated Press news agency.
The Kosovo police, backed by Czech troops from the Nato-led peacekeeping force, put a steel barrier across the road and were able to hold their line.
The Serbs have now pulled back and ended their protest.
Protest rallies were also held in the Bosnian Serb republic (Republika Srpska). There were unconfirmed reports of injuries as several hundred protesters clashed with police outside the US consulate in Banja Luka.
The US, the UK, Germany and Italy have all recognised Kosovo.
In the coming weeks, an almost 2,000-strong EU mission will be deployed to help the country develop its police force and judiciary.
Edit : forgot the link
thank you almighty
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