Bosnian Serb Rioters Swarm U.S. Consulate

(AP)  Police fired tear gas at Bosnian Serb rioters Tuesday to prevent them from storming the building of the U.S. consulate after protests against Kosovo's independence.

A group split away from the almost 10,000 peaceful protesters in Banja Luka and headed toward the consulate, breaking shop windows and throwing stones at police who blocked the streets leading to the building with armored vehicles.

A rain of stones poured down on police before officers fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. Several officers were seen limping. Police were also seen detaining several demonstrators as they withdrew to a nearby park.

Hundreds of hooligans attacked the U.S. embassy in downtown Belgrade Thursday, setting part of it on fire and smashing windows. One person died and hundreds were injured and arrested.

Some bystanders returning from the peaceful part of Tuesday's protest yelled "shame on you!" at the rioters and one man, apparently a former Bosnian Serb soldier, shouted, "This is not what I fought for!"

The incident occurred despite repeated calls by organizers to hold a peaceful protest against Kosovo's independence. Police secured diplomatic missions in the city and warned it would use all legal means to prevent violence.

Tuesday's protest begun with participants gathering peacefully at the main square in downtown Banja Luka, carrying Serbian flags, pictures of Russian President Vladimir Putin and banners reading "No America." At least one U.S. flag had a swastika scribbled on it.

Bosnia consists of two mini-states, one run by Bosnian Serbs, the other by Bosnians and Croats. The Bosnian Serb parliament has condemned Kosovo's declaration of independence and said it will consider a referendum to secede from Bosnia if more countries recognize an independent Kosovo.

[Tennesseetanya]

If the European Union says give Texas to Mexicans...is that okay... kosovo and serbia...its the same. plus the US put a huge military base there... just being nice to Albanians... or just for the location...location...location..

[runningralph]

Why do the rioters blame the US for Kosovo declaring independence? They may be harboring a grudge because the US helped bring Slobber Dan down. Bosnia has the right to want to hold it''s territory together. But that right is only as good as the military power behind it. If the Serbs can enforce it, they should do so. If not, Kosovo will be independent. If the Serbs need help, maybe Russia would help. This has nothing to do with Western countries.

[tibu987]

Whatever, let''s not get into another civil/cultural/religious war. I prefer that they kill each other rather than young American soldiers.
''Nuff said.

[neo267-2009]

I like to watch the morons trying to blame all the world''s problems on Bush. Wait till Obama takes over. The terrorists, China, Russian, Iran, North Korea, will make him dance and do tricks.

[neo267-2009]

The Serbs engaged in ethnic cleansing, mass murder, and mass rape. They should be walled off from civilized people.

[quetzal0666]

make that one more Bush Failure,
The Administration went along with the independent move and maybe even spurred it along so that we could have access to their land for missile defence,

any wonder no one likes this country anymore?
i cant wait for his term to be up, we are in desperate need of a new direction...

[brianbwb-2009]

An American flag with a swastika on it, and here I thought I was the only one who noticed the inescapable similarities...

[krotec54]

Serbia will never let it go, get over it and move on.
There will be another massive expulsions of ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo.
This summer will be a busy one and the U.S. should not get involved.

[tbweb]

Serbia needs to face the fact that the damage is done in Kosovo and is irreparable, Serbia will never be able to regain the trust required to govern in Kosovo effectively. Serbia trying to hold on to Kosovo would be like the U.S. trying to hold on to the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, the damage is done, let it go, get over it and move on.

[ioweign]

Swastika - Now where would they get that idea...