Posted on 02/21/2008 11:04:42 AM PST by 11th_VA
BELGRADE, Serbia - Serb rioters broke into the U.S. Embassy Thursday and set fire to an office after a massive protest against Kosovo's independence that drew an estimated 150,000 people.
Masked attackers broke into the building, which has been closed this week, and tried to throw furniture from an office. A blaze broke out inside one of the offices and parts of the facade also caught fire.
Authorities drove armored jeeps down the street and fired tear gas to clear the crowd. The protesters dispersed into side streets where they continued clashing with authorities.
The neighboring Croatian Embassy also was attacked by the same group of protesters.
In Washington, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack strongly urged the Serbian government to protect the U.S. Embassy. He said the U.S. ambassador was at his home and was in contact with U.S. officials.
More than a dozen nations have recognized Kosovo's declaration of independence on Sunday, including the United States, Britain, France and Germany.
But the declaration by Kosovo's ethnic Albanian leadership has been rejected by Serbia's government and the ethnic Serbians who populate northern Kosovo. Russia, China and numerous other nations have also condemned the declaration, saying it sets a precedent that separatist groups around the world will seek to emulate.
Kosovo, which is 90 percent ethnic Albanian, has not been under Belgrade's control since 1999, when NATO launched airstrikes to halt a Serbian crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists. A U.N. mission has governed Kosovo since, with more than 16,000 NATO troops and KFOR, a multiethnic force, policing the province.
But Serbia — and Kosovo's Serbs, who make up less than 10 percent of Kosovo's population — refuse to give up Kosovo, a territory considered the ancient cradle of Serbs' state and religion.
Earlier Thursday, police estimated that about 150,000 people had attended a rally in the Serbian capital. The crowd waved Serbian flags and carried signs reading "Stop USA terror." One group set fire to a red-and-black Albanian flag.
The U.S. embassy in Belgrade burns after masked attackers broke into the building and set an office on fire at the end of a massive protest against Western-backed Kosovo independence, in the Serbian capital, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008. More than 150,000 Serbs gathered at the rally vowing to retake the territory which is viewed as Serbia's religious and national heartland. (AP Photo)
Try here: http://www.israpundit.com/2008/?p=232#more-232
It’s pretty grizzly. And in case you didn’t know, two of the 9/11 hijackers cut their jihadi teeth in Bosnia!
“..but it was Bush who ran right out and recognized Kosovo.”
He had not much of a choice. He had to follow the leader - the EU.
Period.
Nonsense.
Thomas Jefferson would probably be somewhat sympathetic to this grassroots rebellion against a travesty.
Obviously you do because you are defending muslim terrorists who collaborated with the Nazis in WW2. They also burned down hundreds of Christian churches in Serbia.
This is also setting an awful precedence for the US. We have Muslims buidling prayer towers in suburbs of St. Louis and Detroit. How long will it take before they declare independence from the US?
What about the Mexican Seperatist groups such as La Raza who claim that the Southwest US is the New Azteca and is the land of Mexico?
I'll gladly leave you to your holes and your wonks.
I reiterate: No one who excuses the burning of a US embassy is an American. He is either a foreigner or a traitor.
When is the hypocritical USA and European Union going to demand that Turkey give independence to the eastern part of Turkey which is made up of Kurds who want independence?
Looks like you've drunk the clinton kool-aid! Yugoslavia was fight the UCK terrorists who had taken control of 40% of Kosovo. Then CIA agent William Walker claimed the Racak UCK setup was a massacre so that clinton could begin his bombing campaign to take the Chinese issues and other problems off the front page!
The Clinton Administration Sets Course for NATO Intervention in Kosovo
great post
of course the journolists won’t tell the story how the serbs were being ethnically cleansed before the serbs went ioin to their country and to stop the genocide against serbs
These media outlets are just talking about how the albaninas are the sufferiing ones , well how about telling the truth media and tell everyone about how the srbs were being cleansed formtheir own country
we are on the wrong side on this one
I don't excuse the burning of our Embassy. it is the Serb's responsibility. On the other hand, America is up to no good there.
Man, if Detroit became independent that would be just awful.
Thank you. As do I. One needs only look at the sculptor they have sitting in front of that building to know how much they despise our second amendment. And will take it from us if they can.
What facts? Srebrenica? Do a google search and then click on images. That’ll work for me. Now YOU show me evidence that the Serbs were pure as driven snow... that none of their leaders were indicted and convicted of war crimes...
The Serbs are avenging an unambiguous and grievous wrong done to them. I don’t see how any decent person can not sympathize with them.
Hole in sand, meet empty head.
Yes. I wonder if the MSM will comment on that (I haven't tuned in). Gee, has Bill Clinton been reached for comment? We can thank him for this 'situation'.
Bingo. I never could understand why the US and Europe got involved. Some were concerned that it would spill over into the rest of Europe. Not likely, because the folks in the Balkans were far too busy finding new and inventive ways to slaughter one another.
Better than being a Muslim Jihadi terrorist supporter!
I am aware. I was just in Albania, and I agree with you, we have no business there.
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