Map locates Belgrade, Serbia, where protesters attacked the U.S. Embassy
By Douglas Muir
So a mob attacked the US, Croatian, Turkish and Bosnian embassies in Belgrade today. The US embassy — evacuated in advance — was looted and partially burned. The other embassies also suffered varying degrees of damage.
This came at the same time as a government-sponsored mass demonstration against Kosovo’s declaration of independence. (Yes, Serbia still does government sponsored mass demonstrations. It’s a bad old habit that they still haven’t shaken.) The official line is that the two events were completely unrelated, and indeed the US and Croatian embassies were a couple of kilometers away from the center of the demonstration.
The European Union calls on Serbia to do all it can to protect foreign missions after a day of violence in Belgrade.
The US branded Serbia's behaviour yesterday as "unacceptable" and condemned the country's government for what it said was the incitement of violence after scores of...
Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence has opened a "Pandora's box" which will have consequences for the conditions of minorities in countries such as Spain or Georgia, Thierry de Montbrial, director of the French Institute for International Relations (IFRI), told EurActiv France in an interview.
By William Branigin
Serbs protesting the independence of Kosovo broke away from a government-sponsored rally in Belgrade today and attacked the U.S. Embassy in the city, setting a consular office on fire and burning an American flag before being chased away by riot police.
Serbia will continue to oppose Kosovo's independence using all diplomatic, political and economic means, the country's foreign minister Vuk Jeremic told MEPs yesterday as the climate in Kosovo becomes increasingly explosive.
The UN Security Council decries attacks against embassies by protesters in the Serbian capital, Belgrade.
Kosovo independence sets a dangerous precedent for other states with separatist movements, says Serbia.
And more in Europe:
Continue reading "Serbs as usual..." »
I hope I’m premature writing this - final results in the Irish referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon have not yet been released but all the tallies so far point towards a No vote. That’s also the impression conveyed to me via people in Dublin. Irish Foreign Minister has also basically admitted defeat for the Yes side. So what has to happen?
