February 11, 2009 3:24 PM

U.S. Diplomats On Alert After Attacks

(CBS/AP)  The U.S. ambassador to Serbia has asked the State Department to evacuate some diplomats from the embassy in Belgrade following an attack on the compound.

The envoy, Cameron Munter, has asked for the department to implement an "ordered departure" of all nonessential personnel and the families of all American staff at the embassy, a senior State Department official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the department has not yet approved the request.

The step comes as U.S. diplomats around the Balkans are on alert, girding for more anti-American violence after Serb rioters stormed and torched the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade.

Protests over the declaration of independence by the former Serbian province of Kosovo have increased tensions across the region. And new mass demonstrations are expected following recognition of Kosovo by the United States and other Western countries.

In the northern Kosovo town of Kosovska Mitrovica Friday, United Nations police guarding a key bridge were attacked by angry Serbs hurling stones, glass bottles and firecrackers.

The Serb demonstrators chanted "Kosovo is ours!" on their fifth day of protests since Kosovo's ethnic Albanian leaders declared independence.

American embassies in at least four former Yugoslav republics have stepped up security, ordering diplomats to stay home or limit their movements and warning Americans to use extreme caution outside.

A day after the fiery attack on the Belgrade embassy compound - in which at least one protester was killed - the mission was closed and U.S. diplomats in the Serbian capital were told not to leave their houses.

"U.S. Embassy officials have been advised to stand fast in their residences and avoid movement," the embassy said in a notice to American citizens in Serbia. "American citizens are urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations and to exercise extreme caution."
Kosovo's prime minister on Friday denounced the violent protests in Belgrade as reminiscent of Slobodan Milosevic's wartime rule, telling The Associated Press in an exclusive interview that Serbia must reject "the mentality of the past." [See below.]
Several other embassies in Belgrade as well as a McDonald's restaurant were attacked by mobs on Thursday after a massive protest against Kosovo independence, and the warning noted that private businesses and organizations affiliated with the United States might also become targets for protesters.

"U.S. citizens are urged to avoid large crowds, maintain a low profile and review their personal protective measures," the embassy said, adding that it would also be closed on Monday.

In Podgorica, the capital of neighboring Montenegro, which was once joined with Serbia, the U.S. Embassy and international school shut down ahead of a mass protest that is feared could lead to violence, and it warned of vandalism against U.S. citizens and their property.

"Demonstrators may arrive in large numbers from other parts of Montenegro or Serbia by all modes of transportation throughout the day," the embassy said in a notice. "American citizens are urged to exercise extreme caution."

"The U.S. Embassy in Podgorica is now aware of at least two cases of vandalism directed at a vehicle with U.S. license plates and a vehicle with license plates from the municipality of Ulcinj, an area with a majority Albanian population," it said. "American citizens are encouraged to exercise caution when driving their vehicles."

In Bosnia, the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo told diplomats to defer travel until further notice to the city of Banja Luka, where protesters on Thursday hurled rocks and stones at the U.S. embassy branch.

In Kosovo itself, the State Department advised U.S. citizens against any travel to the northern part of the new country, where ethnic Serbs predominate. U.S. Ambassador Charles English also said that he decided to temporarily close the consulate in the northwestern city of Banja Luka, a day after protesters burned the U.S. flag and tried to storm the consulate building. Bosnian Serb officials could not discount the possibility of further violence.

Kosovo Official: Riots Were "A Reaction Against A Democratic World"

In his first interview since Kosovo declared independence on Sunday, Kosovo's prime minister Hashim Thaci called Thursday night's storming of the U.S. Embassy and attacks on other foreign compounds "terrible," and said it harkened back to the former Serbian leader's bloody 1998-99 crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists in Kosovo.

"The pictures of yesterday in Belgrade were pictures of Milosevic's time," Thaci, a former guerrilla leader of the now-disbanded Kosovo Liberation Army, said at his office in Pristina, the capital.

"What we saw were terrible things," he said. "It was a reaction against a democratic world."

But Thaci expressed confidence that NATO's peacekeeping force - and Kosovo's swift recognition by the U.S. and key European powers - would ensure the new nation remains secure.

"What we saw yesterday in Belgrade is past," he said. "My message to Serbs in Serbia is to look forward and not to work with the mentality of the past, with the mentality of Milosevic's time."

Pro-Western politicians accused hard-line nationalists in the government of Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica of inciting the violence in order to demonstrate Serbia's anger at Kosovo's independence bid. The European Union said Serbia's negotiations to join the bloc would be put on hold.

NATO forces tightened security on Kosovo's border with Serbia on Friday in an effort to keep protesters from crossing into the new country.

"Definitely there will be peace and stability," Thaci told the AP. "The security of Kosovo is a guarantee of NATO and no one can attack. Everything is under control."



© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Add a Comment See all 12 Comments
by antoniof123 February 22, 2008 7:46 PM EST
if it is anything remotely american we know YOU ARE AGAINST IT.

Posted by libsrweak at 03:57 PM : Feb 22, 2008

Do you have any gray matter between your ears? Did you read what was said. Let me see if I can translate for you.

They flet bad for the Americans doing there job because of what you idiots preceive as being American.

Do the world if not the universe a favor and go back to you hole your days are numbered November is right around the corner and I am certain now that it will be a blood bath for the GOP.
Reply to this comment
by libsrweak February 22, 2008 6:57 PM EST
......."I would not want to be an embassador for anything right now,...."

Posted by Quetzal0666 at 03:02 PM : Feb 22, 2008"


HAHAHAHHAHAHAH oh we are sure you dont want to be anything other than one of those whinny conspiracy liberal lurking in the shadows..waiting for something to whine about..

if it is anything remotely american we know YOU ARE AGAINST IT.

Reply to this comment
by easeup-2009 February 22, 2008 6:43 PM EST
"The Only Reason SHRUB backed the creation of this state was so we could then make missile defence systems in their territories,
no one really hears the truth from any of the 3 major networks, any wonder Russia Opposed it?
I would not want to be an embassador for anything right now, soon theill be pelted with anything at hand after 7 years of BUSHIT and Lies!!

Posted by Quetzal0666 at 03:02 PM : Feb 22, 2008"

Please tell us why Britain, France, Germany & basically everyone but Russia & Serbia recognize Kosovo''s independence???

Reply to this comment
by hillaryin08 February 22, 2008 6:05 PM EST
Send Bill and Albright over there to fix it, They started it and left it hanging for the next guy to deal with...........
Reply to this comment
by quetzal0666 February 22, 2008 6:02 PM EST
The Only Reason SHRUB backed the creation of this state was so we could then make missile defence systems in their territories,
no one really hears the truth from any of the 3 major networks, any wonder Russia Opposed it?
I would not want to be an embassador for anything right now, soon theill be pelted with anything at hand after 7 years of BUSHIT and Lies!!
Reply to this comment
by jkessin518 February 22, 2008 4:49 PM EST
After spending billions of dollars around the world building new well secured Embassies with sufficient property setback, why is Embassy Belgrade still in a decrepit building World War II era building which can''t be protected?
Reply to this comment
by randynason February 22, 2008 4:42 PM EST
Why doesn''t the rest of the world like us, anymore? (sarcasm)
Reply to this comment
by prinzowhales February 22, 2008 3:29 PM EST
The Washington Regime has crossed the line once more. It has violated the UN mandate...it has violated the Charter...just as it--and its allies--did when it invaded Kosovo in an offensive war based on lies for the sake of snatching this mineral rich province from Serbia for Mr. Soros and friends.

Only the kind of madmen and fools who gave us the first two world wars support a nuclear exchange for the sake of an Interpol-named drug gang--the KLA--and the portfolios of monsters.
Reply to this comment
by gangesdak February 22, 2008 3:29 PM EST
All US has to do is to bomb Serbian Prez''s residence/palace. Let us see what happens after that.
Reply to this comment
by pooleyman February 22, 2008 1:55 PM EST
duh, we have nuclear weapons and can do the same amount of damage as russia. whats to be scared about? They will not use them because if they did then we would just return the favor and that would be the end of the world as we know it. Not going to happen
Reply to this comment
See all 12 Comments
.
Scroll Left
Scroll Right More »
CBS News on Facebook