1 Dead In U.S. Embassy Mob Attack

Serb Rioters Set Fire To Office Inside U.S. Embassy In Belgrade After Massive Protest Against Kosovo's Independence

(CBS/AP)  Angry Serbs broke into the U.S. Embassy and set fire to an office Thursday night as rioters rampaged through Belgrade's streets, putting an exclamation point of violence to a day of mass protest against Western support for an independent Kosovo.

At least 150,000 people rallied in Belgrade, waving Serbian flags and signs proclaiming "Stop USA terror," to denounce the bid by Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority to create their own state out of what Serbs consider the ancient heartland of their culture.

Several hundred men broke away from the massive protest, battering gates and burning the U.S. flag - eventually breaking down doors and setting the U.S. Embassy's visa section on fire, reports CBS News correspondent Sheila MacVicar.

Crowds also ransacked a McDonald's, looted stores and fought with police in front of other diplomatic compounds in a display of the resentment seething in Serbia over the secession of what has been its southernmost province.

A charred body was found in the U.S. Embassy after the fire was put out, but all staff were accounted for, embassy spokeswoman Rian Harris said. Belgrade's Pink TV said the body appeared to be that of a rioter.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Serbian security "wasn't adequate" at the embassy and said the U.S. government warned Serbia's leaders it would hold them personally responsible for further damage.

"The Embassy for the last few days has been well protected by police but the police today appear to be a bit overstressed because there was an extremely large peaceful official protest in front of the federal parliament building earlier in the day," reporter Neil MacDonald in Belgrade tells CBS Radio News.

Coming after smaller outbursts of violence in Belgrade as well as attacks on a U.N. building and police checkpoints in Kosovo, the outburst underlined the determination of Serbs not to give up Kosovo quietly.

The Serbian government has said it won't resort to military force, but the street violence could be a tactic to slow moves by more countries to follow the U.S., Britain, Germany and France in quickly recognizing Kosovo's independence.

Russia and China lead the states standing with Serbia, worrying that Kosovo's example could encourage separatist sentiment elsewhere. The Kremlin has underlined its displeasure by hinting it might back separatists in pro-Western nations such as the former Soviet republic of Georgia.

Serbian officials dismissed violence earlier in the week as "insignificant," and no police were guarding the U.S. Embassy compound even though it had been targeted previously. American officials said the offices had been closed at midday because of security concerns.

Milorad Veljovic, a top Interior Ministry official, said that security forces had the situation under control and that mobs had been broken up.

Masked men smashed their way inside the compound's consular building, tore down the U.S. flag and tried to throw furniture from an office. They set fire to the office and flames shot up the side of the building.

The State Department officials said no protesters got into the embassy's main chancery section, a separate area that was manned by a U.S. Marine guard unit and some security personnel.

Police arrived about 45 minutes after the blaze broke out, and after the rioters left the building. A half dozen fire trucks also appeared and quickly doused the flames, leaving the front facade and two police guard posts on the sidewalk smoldering.

Officers from an elite paramilitary police unit drove armored jeeps outside the embassy and fired dozens of tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd. Rioters wheeled out large garbage bins in an unsuccessful attempt to block the police vehicles. Thick clouds of tear gas obscured hung in the street as officers chased rioters into nearby side streets.

It was the first attack on a U.S. Embassy since Sept. 12, 2006, when Syrian security guards stopped an attempt to blow up the compound. The last time a mob broke into one was the Iranians' seizure of the U.S. Embassy on Nov. 4, 1979, taking the American staffers hostage.

Critics of Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica accused his nationalistic government of tolerating the violence over Kosovo, perhaps as an excuse to crack down on pro-Western forces in the country.

"I cannot tell if the authorities are going to allow this to escalate, and how long they will let this go on, but it is absolutely clear that it is all under their control," said Vesna Pesic from the pro-Western Liberal Democratic Party whose offices also have been attacked.

The same group of protesters that attacked the U.S. Embassy also targeted the neighboring Croatian Embassy. Smaller groups assaulted police posts outside the Turkish and British embassies in another part of the city but were beaten back.

Rioters broke into a McDonald's restaurant and demolished it. Other shops also were ransacked and people were seen carrying off running shoes, track suits and other sporting goods from a department store.

Police chased small violent groups in areas near the national parliament, where the huge protest rally was held earlier in the afternoon.

Police also were guarding the independent B92 television station - viewed by nationalists as pro-Western - as youths started gathering nearby.

Doctors at Belgrade's emergency clinic reported treating 96 injured, 32 of them policemen. All were lightly injured, said Dusan Jovanovic, deputy chief of the clinic. He added that most of the injured protesters were "extremely drunk."

Serbian President Boris Tadic, who was visiting Romania, appealed for calm and urged protesters to get off the streets. He said the violence was "damaging" Serbia's efforts to defend its claim to Kosovo.

The government went all out to make the mass demonstration outside the parliament a success. Schools were closed and the state railway offered free rides to bring people to Belgrade.

"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?" Kostunica, the prime minister, told the crowd.

Tomislav Nikolic, a member of the ultra-nationalist Radical Party, which is Serbia's largest, accused the U.S. and the European Union of stealing Kosovo. Protesters booed and jeered at every mention of the U.S. and EU.

"We will not rest until Kosovo is again under Serbia's control. Hitler could not take it away from us, and neither will today's (Western powers)," Nikolic said.

[cryonbrian]

If this was in Africa, there would be 10 pages of racist comments by now! FACT!

[watcher269-2009]

Why didn''t the Marines guarding the Embassy shoot these MO-FO''s?

[locke10]

That may be true, cryonbrian, but you may be racist for thinking in that direction unprovoked.

[libsrweak]

Why didn''''t the Marines guarding the Embassy shoot these MO-FO''''s?




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Posted by watcher269 at 02:46 PM : Feb 21, 2008
+ report abuse


****************

you dont want a bunch of more rabid protestors AKA LIBERALS..to complain that we are doing another blackwater tactics on ''innocent civilians''

[libsrweak]

Posted by cryonbrian at 02:43 PM : Feb 21, 2008
+ report abuse


**********

why??? feeling lonely?

[luigi999-2009]

Why weren''t a couple of F-16''s sent to strafe those clowns off the streets?

[infidel_us]

Hey Bill, I thought you and Hillary had this FIXED????

[jochitragman]

If this was in Africa, there would be 10 pages of racist comments by now! FACT!


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Posted by cryonbrian at 02:43 PM : Feb 21, 2008


Are you an Afican?

[ixoye_02]

Given Serbia''s history of ethnic cleansing, Kosovo''s declaration of independence if the right thing. If a government cannot ensure the protection and participation of ethnic minorities in government, then these ethnic groups have the right for self-determination. In Kosovo''s case, the ethnic Albanians have the right to self-determination because the serbian "Nazi" government would eventually kill all the ethnic Albanians. It''s not a surprise that China and Russia disagree with Kosovo''s independence because the chinese and russian governments have engaged in oppressing the smaller ethnic groups (e.g. Tibet, Chechniya).
As for Serbia, the US should go back and bomb Belgrade to ashes to tell the Serbs that we cannot support a modern-day nazi government or people who decide to kill and oppress other people because of their ethnicity. Serbia is a pariah.

[infidel_us]

you dont want a bunch of more rabid protestors AKA LIBERALS..to complain that we are doing another blackwater tactics on ''''innocent civilians''''
Posted by libsrweak at 02:54 PM : Feb 21, 2008

They wouldn''t because a LIB sent the troops there. See the difference? We can get involved in a civil war for the last 10 years because a LIB sent them in. If Bush did it, it would be illegal. Have you ever seen such a bunch of two faced liars????

[moliny]

If this was in Africa, there would be 10 pages of racist comments by now! FACT!

I don''t see rioters with machetes hacking innocent
men, women and children to death..fact ooohhh I''m sorry that makes me politically incorrect/racist/devil/evil/..

[poopusbuttus]

Its over Libs, Kosovo is free. Dont try to defend your stupid positions. Rioting, or no rioting. It''s over. Russia is slowing caving in to the "Pincer" move as well as several countries in Iran.

Thanks to the USA. Now, it wont happen in our lifetime, but our kids, may have a chance to live in a trouble free world.

Maybe not though....we may have to end up nuking China.

[ov442]

{The crowd waved Serbian flags and carried signs reading "Stop USA terror." One group set fire to a red-and-black Albanian flag. }

They broke into the US embassy and burned part of it and vandalized others, and they set fire to flags, and yet they have the GALL to say - stop USA terror...!!!!, incredible hippocrisy.
These Serbs need to look in a mirror and realize who they are.

[jochitragman]

detroit????lol

[ov442]

They wouldn''''t because a LIB sent the troops there. See the difference? We can get involved in a civil war for the last 10 years because a LIB sent them in. If Bush did it, it would be illegal. Have you ever seen such a bunch of two faced liars???? posted by Infidel_US
.........
Yeah the Republicans are all 2-faced hippocritical liars. they always say one thing, then do the opposite after they convinced the sheep that support them to believe anything they say.
No one called Bush Sr''s war against Iraq anything but a good idea. No one has called Clintons'' foray into Kosovo anything but a good idea. Both worked, Both were supported, Both had justification, Both were implemented well and everything was done right.

Bush Jr, however, had an agenda, he lied, he trumped up false information and fed it to everyone. He and his cronies fed the whole world a load of BS. THey BUNGLED the entire occupation, and infrastructure rebuild. They failed to send troops to take out the guy that caused 9-11, and instead got us into a "quagmire" to Quote Cheney in 1992.
EVerything Bush has done has been rediculous and harmful to americans.

[poopusbuttus]

They broke into the US embassy and burned part of it and vandalized others, and they set fire to flags, and yet they have the GALL to say - stop USA terror...!!!!, incredible hippocrisy.
These Serbs need to look in a mirror and realize who they are.




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Posted by ov442

Agreed. But then again, what do you expect from a bunch of Dummy liberal Serbians....

[theusa1st]

Have you ever seen such a bunch of two faced liars????

Posted by Infidel_US at 03:08 PM : Feb 21, 2008

yes, everytime I see a congressman on tv or other type of media....

[poopusbuttus]

Damnn.......newsflash. Chopper in Afghanistan carrying John Kerry, Joe Biden and Chuck Hagel makes an emergency landing. More news to follow.

[joyous88]

Hard to believe that the idiot Bush could create even more anti-americans,

but there it is

[pvperson]

You read the asinine comments made here and wonder why the world detests the US. Especially for you, poopusbuttus, boy did you name yourself appropriately.

[easeup-2009]

"Hard to believe that the idiot Bush could create even more anti-americans,

but there it is

Posted by joyous88 at 03:25 PM : Feb 21, 2008"

Hard to believe someone could have absolutely zero grasp of a situation yet post an opinion.

joyous is without peers

[poopusbuttus]

You read the asinine comments made here and wonder why the world detests the US. Especially for you, poopusbuttus, boy did you name yourself appropriately.


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Posted by PVperson

PapillomaVirusperson -- You''re a dummy. And, you always will be one.

[infidel_us]

Bush has done has been rediculous and harmful to americans.
Posted by ov442 at 03:22 PM : Feb 21, 2008

Prove it

[j-whitman]

poopusbuttus,,,, That''s right, & all 3 senators are fine.

[locke10]

it''s spelled HYPOCRITICAL. If you can''t spell, try using smaller words.

[pupeta-2009]

Let me see, so now we have to add the christian orthodox as a new enemy? as if muslims weren''t enough when will people realize that the enemy of humanity is called Bush and the republican christians. ?

[displeased]

Excuse my ignorance for I must have missed something. What does Bush or the U.S. have to do with Kosovo''s independence?

[mcvet]

Which is only fair since Clinton left it to Bush to take care of. . .

When is the US going to realize that not everyone wants the US to "help" them?


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Posted by tuckerndfw at 03:56 PM : Feb 21, 2008
+ report abuse

Not so! The Serbs were killing these people in VERY large Numbers. Clinton aided NATO and the EU in stopping the Genocide of Albainian''s. Bush has NOT followed up nor has he made any effort to bring the situation to a peaceful close.

[mudrose-2009]

Bush has done has been rediculous and harmful to americans.
Posted by ov442 at 03:22 PM : Feb 21, 2008

Prove it
Posted by Infidel_US

If you remember when this whole thing erupted, it was Pope John Paul that asked Clinton to do something. The Clintoid would never have done anything on his own had it not been for the Pope. In any event, the reason when Milosevic and his penchant for all the very ancient artifacts up in Kosovo that they didn''t want distrubed by the muslims that caused the ethnic cleansing, not that the muslims did anything to the ruins. So now that Kosovo is independent of Serbia, the nutjobs are at it again because of the ruins. Like I said, there are always people out there that will never celebrate Freedom. Most of the world doesn''t understand Freedom or Autonomy. Just like the little fools here who would rather be subjected to government ruling the country than they being responsible for themselves. I respect what the Kosovars have done. Serbia can eat its heart out for the unnecessary killing of innocents.

[mcvet]

Hard to believe someone could have absolutely zero grasp of a situation yet post an opinion.

joyous is without peers


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Posted by easeup at 03:30 PM : Feb 21, 2008
+ report abuse

Well EXPLAIN it to us Swastika Breath. You Superior types have all the answers all the time anyway don''t you? God were do they find you freaks anyway? No one''s opinion is acceptable to you UNLESS it meets the Party standards now does it. Maybe you didn''t notice the headlines about the LIES told to our ONLY ally today? Sieg Heil Bush!!

[easeup-2009]

"Bush has NOT followed up nor has he made any effort to bring the situation to a peaceful close.

Posted by MCVet at 04:02 PM : Feb 21, 2008"

What the hell do you expect Bush to do in this case? NATO & the EU have been policing the region since the shooting ended--i.e. It''s a EURO thing.

I guarantee that if Bush stepped in in any way you idiots would scream & stomp your feet, "BUSH IS STARTING ANOTHER WAR!! WE HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING THERE!!! WAAAAAA!!!"

Is it possible for you to ONCE use your BRAIN & take off the Bush goggles???

[easeup-2009]

"Well EXPLAIN it to us Swastika Breath. You Superior types have all the answers all the time anyway don''''t you? God were do they find you freaks anyway? No one''''s opinion is acceptable to you UNLESS it meets the Party standards now does it. Maybe you didn''''t notice the headlines about the LIES told to our ONLY ally today? Sieg Heil Bush!!

Posted by MCVet at 04:04 PM : Feb 21, 2008"

Have someone READ YOU THE FVCKING ARTICLE!!!!!!

[libsrweak]

Well EXPLAIN it to us Swastika Breath. You Superior types have all the answers all the time anyway don''''t you? God were do they find you freaks anyway? No one''''s opinion is acceptable to you UNLESS it meets the Party standards now does it. Maybe you didn''''t notice the headlines about the LIES told to our ONLY ally today? Sieg Heil Bush!!


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Posted by MCVet at 04:04 PM : Feb 21, 2008
+ report abuse


********

the problem SIR, most of what comes out of your lumpy head are garbage..your retort alone is nothing but just childish rantings smeared with a nice hint of stupidy WHICH MOST people would consider as ghetto talk instead of an OPNION..

[joyous88]

easeup;

how about you WAKEUP

the US commands NATO and the EU is the one with nothing to do with it, its a NATO thing,

in any case, the situaiton in this story is about the
Serbs being unhappy that the US President (I.E., the clown) announced his support for one of their States
ceding from their Union, so they trashed our embassy,

the real question is how many more ANTI-Americans can Bush create in his time left in office

[grazinggoat]

I guarantee that if Bush stepped in in any way you idiots would scream & stomp your feet, "BUSH IS STARTING ANOTHER WAR!! WE HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING THERE!!! WAAAAAA!!!"

Is it possible for you to ONCE use your BRAIN & take off the Bush goggles???
Posted by easeup at 04:09 PM : Feb 21, 2008

-Bill Clinton administration ended 7 years ago. All the influencial decisiona re bing taken by the Walking-Liar''s administration, who had time to start a little war called Iraq based on lies. Of course Bush is again responsible and he''s likely to start another war, for domination of the Balkans. Serbs are being punished for having sided with the Russians, as per our foreign policy makers. So we helped this poor country (no oil, no natural resource, no freedom to defend/obtain), only and solely to upset the Russians and provoke them into a bloody conflict of ours.

[notblue]

tucker, I agree with you on this one, McVet twists everything into a blame Bush rant. He likes to play both sides of the fence, sense has nothing to do with his statements just hate.

[mudrose-2009]

Posted by grazinggoat

You, like McVet are devoid of any intelligent reasoning. How sad.

[serbian-girl]

There were couple of thousands who destroyed USA embassy. There are six million of us (Serbs) who condemn that act of violence.

Thihk about it.

And, I apologize. I wasn''t there, I didn''t do it, I condemn it, but I apologize. In the name of my fellow countrymen who did it.

Think about it too.

[easeup-2009]

"in any case, the situaiton in this story is about the
Serbs being unhappy that the US President (I.E., the clown) announced his support for one of their States
ceding from their Union, so they trashed our embassy,

the real question is how many more ANTI-Americans can Bush create in his time left in office

Posted by joyous88 at 04:16 PM : Feb 21, 2008"

You STILL didn''t read the article.....go back & read the part about other countries'' embassies getting attacked. Also read the part about our allies, France, Germany & Britain recognizing Kosovo.

The U.S. commands NATO? Wow that''s news.

Go back to your Bush voodoo doll.....

[easeup-2009]

"Of course Bush is again responsible and he''''s likely to start another war, for domination of the Balkans"

Posted by grazinggoat at 04:18 PM : Feb 21, 2008

Based on WHAT?? Why would anyone start a war there?

*** it''s like you people are brainwashed.....

[jimmyc1955]

History Lesson- Soviet Union collapses - Yugoslavia quickly follows. A 1300 year old war starts up all over again. UN sends in UN troops to prevent bloodshed. UN rules of engagement allowed them to sit in the stands as Serbs massacred, Croats, Muslims and Kosovars. Croats murdered Serbs, Muslims and Kosovars. Muslims murdered Serbs Croats and kosovars . . . you get the picture. UN=Useless Nothings (Actually allowed a serb armored column to drive THROUGH their camp - cleansed a whole croat village - man woman and child, and never did a thing to help.)

Finally Clinton goes in - to save - wait for it - the MUSLIMS!! from ethnic cleansing. He strong arms NATO to go with him but won''t put troops on the ground wants only to do it from the air. Months of air war, attrition of Serb forces over time (after all kinds of friendly fire problems - like killing the good guys) and Serbs gave in.

Ground troops go in - ostensibly to be out in 6 months. I believe after 10 or more years they are still there. Seems to be forgotten. Probably will never leave - cause if you do - 1300 year old war starts up all over again.

These folks hold a grudge a long, long time.

Clinton got us in - never pulled us out.

BTW - Burning the US Embassy when we were something like number 8 who recognized Kosovo sounds suspicious. Can you say Putin putting in a street demonstration for publicity purposes?? I knew you could.

[jimmyc1955]

Serbgirl - Do you think that was a spontaneous event or did somebody plan it? Why the US when most of wester EU also recognized Kosovo?

[squidly8]

Joyous88, The US does not command Nato

Jaap de Hoop Scheffer of the Netherlands is the Secretary General of NATO (since 2004) and the Chairman of NATO Military Committee is Ray Henault of Canada (since 2005) Source: Wikipedia

[mcvet]

Stay the Course folks. Another 4 years of Republican Rule and we can pretty much put a fense around this nation and hold up against the entire world. Sieg Heil Bush

[jimmyc1955]

Joyous88 - DO you have any idea what NATO is? North Atlantic Treaty Orgainization - multinational military joint sphere created to provide a unified effort versus the massive soviet army post WWII?

You need to get out of the "Bush is ulitimate evil" and start thinking. Its a really useful thing for all kinds of events.

[mcvet]

tucker, I agree with you on this one, McVet twists everything into a blame Bush rant. He likes to play both sides of the fence, sense has nothing to do with his statements just hate.


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Posted by notblue at 04:18 PM : Feb 21, 2008
+ report abuse

Hows that you Nazi? Is Bush NOT the President? Is he NOT responsible for what happens on his watch? Let''s stop this blaming everyone else for his actions. We have no way of knowing HOW Bill Clinton would react in this situation since he IS NOT there. He acted by treaty with the EU when he was there, now thats the same NATO that is holding us up in Afgainstan! When do YOU get around to accepting that Bush IS to blame for the 935 lies told to WE the PEOPLE to start his war in Iraq? Hummm??? Yes I hate George Bush and THAT is exactly why. NO ONE who is SUPPOSED to represent We the PEOPLE has a right to LIE to them and start a war. He wanted a war, he had the RESPONSIBLITIY to tell the people the TRUTH about it. Go to the site! LOOK them up! They''re all there documented and laid out as plain as the nose on your face. AMERICAN''s died because of those lies.. now why don''t YOU hate him as well? Sieg Heil Bush

[mcvet]

This is all Bush''''s fault, right libtards?




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Posted by badaxmofo at 04:39 PM : Feb 21, 2008
+ report abuse

Are you saying MICKEY MOUSE recognized this country? I sure think it was Sir Lies-A-Lot... but then you bootlickers will never admit Bush did anything will you? He''s responsible for what goes on under his watch and HE refuses to Negotiate or talk with ANYONE... he said so himself. A little statesmanship could have resolved this but that''s something Bush and you freaks have never heard of now is it. Sieg Heil Bush

[denn034]

This is US bashing. The Kosovars acted independently. The US didn''t force them to go independent. Those Serbs are just using the US as a convenient scapegoat.

[jimmyc1955]

MCVET - Sooo - since Bush is the cause of all the hatred of the US - please explain the following events in relation to A - how it is Bushes fault - B - why they happened before either Bush came into office?

Kobar Towers
2 US Embasseys in Africa
Two bombings of the World Trade Center
US hostages in Iran (144 hostages for over 2 years)

I am sure there are more.

Enlighten me.

[lorinkundert]

Ask yourselves how you would feel if the world gave away Hawaii.