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)
Fascinating. I search daily for Putin's activities and it has been very very quiet lately.
The Bosnian conflict was a bit more complex than a fight between Christian Serbs and Muslims :)
Thanks. I posted another link in #500.
I found it very interesting that Bolton made these statements to a Russian television reporter. I didn’t see this particular story anywhere else in the US, but perhaps I missed the MSM news coverage of this one./s
I don't know what motivated this stupid move on his part.
All I know is that we need to get the Hell out of Kosovo before the ground thaws.
He's one of the signatories of the letter I linked in #442.
"War on Terror," my @ss. This country is building an empire, and quite frankly we have no qualms about establishing and propping up radical Islamic states or quasi-states as long as they do business in U.S. dollars.
In this situation I think he is. I hate it. I voted for him twice and agree with him on many things. I also disagree with him on a few things. In this situation he is 100% dead wrong....and I think we will eventually suffer for it.
Who is in Romania today? I cannot recall. Is it the Serbian president?
I think so.
I think Russia would rather not have to deal with European powers sympathetic to islamic puppet masters. If anything, Putin is looking far ahead.
Bush went through the back door, Europe now has a muslim country.
The media are steeped in their own lies about the “massacre” and “genocide” the Serbs committed in Kosovo. They can’t reverse their original stories now, especially with HRC in the presidential race against a potential sleeper Muzzie.
Kosovo was the cradle of Serbia and until about 50 years ago - before the Muslim influx - had a Serbian majority. The Serbs are incensed - just as we would be if Alta California declared independence and changed its name to Aztlan. Oh, on second thought....
Bolton was singing a different tune back in 1998-99. I have reached the inescapable conclusion that John Bolton is completely full of sh!t.
I definitely agree but I wouldn't wait that long to get our people out, I'd start the process now. Russia will not roll over on this.
Rubbish. Putin has no qualms on his part to protect, support and prop up Islamic terrorist regimes in Iran and Syria. Russia/Putin also support Hezbullah, Hamas and he backed Saddam Hussein. Putin is not the great guardian against Islam, some are trying to make out of him.
Serbian president actually went to Romania to hide.
As he was pro-american and pro-EU and won a 3 weeksago elections, US back-stabbed him by Kosovo reckognition.
55% Serbs supported US and sought US as ally until feb 17th.
Bush betrayed those 55% and turned whole country against its pro-western president.
P.S.
Romania, cancelled all treaties with Kosovo, even closing down diplomatic office in kosova, claiming “Kosovo us part of Serbia”
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