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US to evacuate staff from Serbia US to evacuate staff from Serbia
(10 minutes later)
The US embassy in Serbia has ordered the temporary evacuation of non-essential staff after protesters attacked the building. The US embassy in Serbia has ordered the temporary evacuation of non-essential staff after protesters attacked the building in Belgrade.
About 1,000 protesters set fire to the embassy in Belgrade on Thursday in anger at Kosovo's declaration of independence, which the US recognised. About 1,000 protesters set fire to the embassy on Thursday in anger at Kosovo's declaration of independence, which the US and others recognised.
The UK, German, Croatian, Belgian and Turkish embassies were also attacked.The UK, German, Croatian, Belgian and Turkish embassies were also attacked.
Both the Serbian president and PM have condemned the violence, which left one dead and more than 100 injured.Both the Serbian president and PM have condemned the violence, which left one dead and more than 100 injured.
'Thugs'
US embassy spokeswoman Rian Harris told AFP news agency: "Dependents are being temporarily ordered to depart Belgrade. We do not have confidence that Serbian authorities can provide security for our staff members."US embassy spokeswoman Rian Harris told AFP news agency: "Dependents are being temporarily ordered to depart Belgrade. We do not have confidence that Serbian authorities can provide security for our staff members."
Another spokesperson told Reuters news agency the ambassador and core staff would remain. What we saw were terrible things - it was a reaction against a democratic world Hashim Thaci, Kosovo PM class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7258373.stm">Serb fury erupts class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7257318.stm">In pictures: Belgrade rally
We received assurances from Prime Minister Kostunica that there would not be a repeat of this episode and we will hold him to that US state department spokesman class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7258373.stm">Serb fury erupts class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7257318.stm">In pictures: Belgrade rally Another spokesperson told Reuters news agency the ambassador, Cameron Munter, and core staff would remain.
There are fears of further violence in the wake of Kosovo's declaration of secession from Serbia last Sunday. The evacuation will be reassessed in seven to 10 days. Ms Harris said the embassy would reopen on Tuesday after repairs.
The European Union on Friday called on Serbia to protect embassies following the violence in Belgrade. The US earlier lodged an official protest over the attack.
Fears remain of further violence in the wake of the declaration of secession from Serbia by Kosovo's ethnic Albanian leaders last Sunday.
Hundreds of Serbs protested on Friday in the ethnically-divided Kosovo town of Mitrovica, but apart from some scuffles and stone-throwing the rally passed off largely peacefully.
The European Union called on Serbia to protect embassies in Belgrade.
The UN Security Council condemned the attacks and the US described those responsible as "thugs".The UN Security Council condemned the attacks and the US described those responsible as "thugs".
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said continued violence would harm efforts to improve ties. Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said on Friday the embassy attacks reminded him of the era of former Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic.
"The embassies have to be protected, and that is the obligation of the country," Mr Solana told reporters when arriving for an EU meeting in Slovenia. Mr Thaci said: "What we saw were terrible things. It was a reaction against a democratic world."
"Things will have to calm down before we can recuperate the climate that would allow for any contact to move on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement." About 1,000 protesters smashed their way into the US embassy, throwing flares through a window.
HAVE YOUR SAYI think the people of Kosovo made the wrong choice. They become one of the smallest and poorest countries in EuropePaolo, ItalySend us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYI think the people of Kosovo made the wrong choice. They become one of the smallest and poorest countries in EuropePaolo, ItalySend us your comments
That agreement, a preliminary deal on EU-Serbia links, was reached last year, but the EU has said it will not sign it until Belgrade co-operates fully with the UN war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. There were no police protecting the embassy, but riot police later intervened, firing tear gas to disperse the crowd.
The EU was ready to sign an interim trade deal with Belgrade, but Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica blocked the move earlier this month. Fires raged for half an hour, and when firemen finally managed to get inside the building they found a charred body, which has not been identified. Reports suggest the body may be that of one of the intruders.
European Union spokeswoman Cristina Gallach said the violence in the Serbian capital - which followed a rally against Kosovo's secession - was "totally unacceptable". 'No excuse'
She urged all involved to show "restraint and responsibility". Serbian President Boris Tadic called an emergency meeting of Serbia's National Security Council on Friday.
Mr Kostunica has condemned the "brutal violence" that saw about 1,000 protesters smash their way into the US embassy, throwing flares through a window.
At the time there appeared to be no police protecting the embassy, but riot police later intervened, firing tear gas to disperse the crowd.
The fires raged for half an hour, and when firemen finally managed to get inside the building they found a charred body, which has not been identified.
US officials said all embassy staff of US nationality had been accounted for, and reports suggest the body may be that of one of the intruders.
Photographer Joachim Heinemann in Belgrade says the streets of the city are now calm, with the clean-up operation well under way.
He told the BBC News website that shops selling Western sportswear brands had been targeted by rioters, as had American burger chain McDonald's.
Formal protest
In New York, the 15-member UN Security Council issued a unanimous statement condemning the violence.
It went on to welcome steps by the Serbian authorities to restore order.
The main rally outside parliament was peacefulWhite House spokesman Dana Perino employed less diplomatic language.
"Our embassy was attacked by thugs," she told reporters on US presidential plane Air Force One as President George W Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice returned from a trip to Africa.
She added: "We have made known to the Serbian government our concern and displeasure that their police force did not prevent this incident."
US state department spokesman Sean McCormack said a formal protest had been lodged with Serbia.
He added: "We received assurances from Prime Minister Kostunica that there would not be a repeat of this episode and we will hold him to that."
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said damage to the British embassy building was "limited", and embassy staff were safe.
KOSOVO PROFILE Population about two millionMajority ethnic Albanian; 10% SerbUnder UN control since Nato drove out Serb forces in 19992,000-strong EU staff to take over from UN after independenceRecognised by US, UK, Germany, Italy and FranceNot recognised by Russia, Spain, Slovakia, CyprusNato to stay to provide security Country profile: KosovoTension on new borderRussia force warningKOSOVO PROFILE Population about two millionMajority ethnic Albanian; 10% SerbUnder UN control since Nato drove out Serb forces in 19992,000-strong EU staff to take over from UN after independenceRecognised by US, UK, Germany, Italy and FranceNot recognised by Russia, Spain, Slovakia, CyprusNato to stay to provide security Country profile: KosovoTension on new borderRussia force warning
"While the Kosovo issue raises strong feelings in Serbia, no cause can justify such displays of violence," he said. He said: "I most sharply condemn the violence, looting and arson. There is no excuse for the violence."
"We have made clear to the Serbian government that we expect them to fully uphold their obligations to protect our embassy and other diplomatic premises in Belgrade." Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica had earlier also condemned the attack.
Most Serbs regard Kosovo as their religious and cultural heartland. Russia, Serbia's key ally, said it also regretted the actions.
Serbia, supported by Russia and China, says Kosovo's independence declaration on Sunday violates international law. But foreign ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin added: "Those forces that supported Kosovo's proclamation of independence should have been aware of the consequences of such a step."
Mr Kostunica has recalled Serbia's ambassador to the US. US assistant secretary of state for political affairs, Nicholas Burns, criticised Moscow's role: "They're not in Kosovo, they're not doing anything to help the Kosovars. So they're kind of on the sidelines contributing mostly unhelpfully."
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said continued violence would harm efforts to improve ties.
He said "things will have to calm down" before the EU continued talks on a preliminary deal on EU-Serbia links.
A protest in Mitrovica on Friday passed off largely peacefully
Kosovo's declaration of independence has split the international community, with many Western nations recognising the move, while China and Russia were among those opposed.
Most Serbs regard Kosovo as their religious and cultural heartland and believe the independence declaration violates international law.
Mr Kostunica has recalled Serbia's ambassador to the US over the affair.
In the coming weeks, a 2,000-strong EU mission will be deployed to help Kosovo develop its police force and judiciary.In the coming weeks, a 2,000-strong EU mission will be deployed to help Kosovo develop its police force and judiciary.
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