SERBIA: Serbs attack American embassy in Belgrade while grenades are thrown at UN and EU buidlings in Mitrovica

Record ID: 352227

  • Title: SERBIA: Serbs attack American embassy in Belgrade while grenades are thrown at UN and EU buidlings in Mitrovica
  • Date: 18th February 2008
  • Summary: (BN14) BELGRADE, SERBIA (FEBRUARY 17, 2008) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SCENES) SERBS CHANTING AND SINGING OUTSIDE U.S. EMBASSY IN PROTEST AT SUPPORT FOR KOSOVO; MAN LIGHTING FLARES
  • Embargoed: 4th March 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Serbia
  • Country: Serbia
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVAAH7KA7QS9HFXKP14LFFYUL6IZ
  • Story Text: Serb protesters attack the US embassy in Belgrade, angry at American support for Kosovo's declaration of independence. Hand grenades are thrown at UN and EU buildings in Kosovo's second city of Mitrovica, hours after the declaration of independence.
    Serb protesters attacked the US embassy in Belgrade on Sunday (February 17), in a display of anger over US' support for Kosovo's declaration of independence.
    Earlier, Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica condemned Kosovo as a false state in a televised address to the nation, and accused the US of propping it up unlawfully.
    Massed ranks of police in riot gear faced a barrage of flares and other missiles, but pushed protesters away from the embassy.
    At least one officer was wounded.
    In the Kosovo Serb stronghold city of Mitrovica hand grenades were thrown at buildings of the European Union and United Nations hours after Kosovo declared independence with EU backing.
    One grenade exploded at the UN mission causing no significant damage, a Western source in the city said. EU officials evacuated their building, which houses the team preparing a mission to supervise Kosovo's independence.
    Police sources said a vehicle belonging to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) was damaged in the blast at the UN car park.
    French troops of the NATO-led peacekeeping force KFOR have prepared concrete and wire barriers to close off the bridges dividing Albanians and Serbs in Mitrovica in case of clashes.
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