One dead, up to 150 injured in riots

A peaceful rally in Belgrade that organizers say gathered 250,000 people turned into rioting yesterday. Small groups are said to have broken from the main event, organized by the authorities to show that Serbia does not accept Kosovo Albanians' unilateral declaration of independence, to attack foreign embassies, banks and restaurants. One dead, up to 150 injured in riots The Serbian police (MUP) riot and Gendarmerie units intervened to stop the violence. Up to 150 people have been treated for non-life threatening injuries, 35 of them police officers. But there was also one fatality: a charred corpse was recovered from the U.S. embassy, which was set on fire when rioters forced their way in earlier in the evening. The U.S. State Department has confirmed that none of the staff was present at the embassy during the incident, but that its security guards and Marines were there. However, a spokeswoman for the embassy said last night that they were certain the victim "did not die in any kind of contact with the embassy's security". Police are yet to release any statement concerning the victim's identity and the cause of death. B92 has learned that the post-mortem has started this morning. The violence in Belgrade began yesterday, while the massive rally was still ongoing in front of the Parliament Hall. Those countries that have led the way in recognizing Kosovo's unilateral independence, and their businesses, were targeted. A group of several hundred mostly young men, which the media describes as hooligans, first attacked the Turkish embassy with stones, but the police there managed to disperse them. Then, a second group headed toward the Kneza Milosa Street, which houses many foreign embassies, including that of the United States and Croatia. No police were present in front of either at that point, and rioters reached the first building, forcing their way in. They climbed the balcony, took down the American flag, set it on fire, and replaced it with the Serbian flag. Simultaneously, protesters ransacked the Croatian embassy and broke several windows on the German diplomatic premises. A car was set on fire in front of the Canadian embassy, but the building itself was not attacked. After the rioters set the U.S. embassy on fire, and the flames engulfed the first two floors, MUP sent in its special forces, Gendarmes in a dozen Hummer vehicles, who threw tear gas at demonstrators, and driving slowly down the street, pushed the protesters away. Many were also beaten by the police, and forced to lie on the street handcuffed. Only after this, the firefighters managed to reach the building on fire, to put it out shortly after. Minor incidents were also reported in front of the British and Belgian embassies. The dispersed groups of rioters then proceeded to loot stores and vandalize banks in downtown Belgrade. A McDonald's restaurant was once again attacked, this time set on fire. At one point, several groups of demonstrators tried to approach B92 headquarters, situated in New Belgrade and far from the scene of the riots across the Sava River. But Gendarmerie arrived at the building to secure it, and no incidents were reported. However, several journalists and television crews, including one Dutch and two Russian reporters, and a state television, RTS, crew, came under attack in the streets. MUP restored order and took full control of the streets at 23:00 CET. Gendarmes handling rioters (FoNet)

One dead, up to 150 injured in riots

The Serbian police (MUP) riot and Gendarmerie units intervened to stop the violence. Up to 150 people have been treated for non-life threatening injuries, 35 of them police officers.

But there was also one fatality: a charred corpse was recovered from the U.S. embassy, which was set on fire when rioters forced their way in earlier in the evening.

The U.S. State Department has confirmed that none of the staff was present at the embassy during the incident, but that its security guards and Marines were there.

However, a spokeswoman for the embassy said last night that they were certain the victim "did not die in any kind of contact with the embassy's security".

Police are yet to release any statement concerning the victim's identity and the cause of death. B92 has learned that the post-mortem has started this morning.

The violence in Belgrade began yesterday, while the massive rally was still ongoing in front of the Parliament Hall.

Those countries that have led the way in recognizing Kosovo's unilateral independence, and their businesses, were targeted.

A group of several hundred mostly young men, which the media describes as hooligans, first attacked the Turkish embassy with stones, but the police there managed to disperse them.

Then, a second group headed toward the Kneza Miloša Street, which houses many foreign embassies, including that of the United States and Croatia.

No police were present in front of either at that point, and rioters reached the first building, forcing their way in. They climbed the balcony, took down the American flag, set it on fire, and replaced it with the Serbian flag.

Simultaneously, protesters ransacked the Croatian embassy and broke several windows on the German diplomatic premises.

A car was set on fire in front of the Canadian embassy, but the building itself was not attacked.

After the rioters set the U.S. embassy on fire, and the flames engulfed the first two floors, MUP sent in its special forces, Gendarmes in a dozen Hummer vehicles, who threw tear gas at demonstrators, and driving slowly down the street, pushed the protesters away. Many were also beaten by the police, and forced to lie on the street handcuffed.

Only after this, the firefighters managed to reach the building on fire, to put it out shortly after.

Minor incidents were also reported in front of the British and Belgian embassies.

The dispersed groups of rioters then proceeded to loot stores and vandalize banks in downtown Belgrade. A McDonald's restaurant was once again attacked, this time set on fire.

At one point, several groups of demonstrators tried to approach B92 headquarters, situated in New Belgrade and far from the scene of the riots across the Sava River. But Gendarmerie arrived at the building to secure it, and no incidents were reported.

However, several journalists and television crews, including one Dutch and two Russian reporters, and a state television, RTS, crew, came under attack in the streets.

MUP restored order and took full control of the streets at 23:00 CET.