Protesters Storm U.S. Embassy in Serbia and Set Fire Over Kosovo Independence

[Grande]

Protesters Storm U.S. Embassy in Serbia and Set Fire Over Kosovo Independence
Thursday, February 21, 2008

http://i26.tinypic.com/2usv6ko.jpg

DEVELOPING STORY ...

Rioters stormed the U.S. embassy in Belgrade, Serbia, on Thursday and started a fire in protest of Kosovo's declaration of independence earlier this week.

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. The neighboring Croatian Embassy also was attacked by the same group.

Crowds outside cheered and chanted, egging the demonstrators on as they stormed the embassy, which was closed at the time and had no police guarding it, Reuters reported.

Riot police drove armored jeeps down the street and fired tear gas to clear the crowd.

U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack on Thursday 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.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,331695,00.html

[Texas53]

I can't blame U.S. Embassy employees for not wanting to go on some of their assignments. We have a world full of enemies. Not too long ago, Embassy building weren't attacked. Now days, anything is a target. JMHO

[Details]

Hmmm - remember the hostage crisis in Iran? I think embassy buildings have always been the convenient local target for anger. I don't think this was the least surprise to the Embassy - that's why it was closed, and unguarded. Let people vent their anger, and get over it.

The Serbs tried to exterminate these guys, they should hardly be surprised they chose independence. But I think they still can't accept looking at their actions, they want to see themselves still as the good guys, the victims.

[Isabella]

BELGRADE, Serbia - Serb rioters set fire to an office inside the U.S. Embassy Thursday and police clashed with protesters outside other embassy buildings after an estimated 150,000 people demonstrated against Kosovo's declaration of independence.

A charred body was found inside the embassy afterward, U.S. diplomats said, but it was unknown whose it was. "It was found at the part of the building set on fire by the protesters," embassy spokeswoman Rian Harris said. She said all embassy staffers were accounted for.

The State Department issued a travel alert for Americans in Serbia.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23277147/