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| Thousands in Serb Kosovo protest | Thousands in Serb Kosovo protest |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| At least 150,000 Serbs have held a rally in central Belgrade to protest against Kosovo's declaration of independence over the weekend. | |
| Protesters with flags, banners, and red and yellow flares filled the main parliament square. | |
| PM Vojislav Kostunica told the crowds that Kosovo would belong to the Serbian people "as long as we live". | PM Vojislav Kostunica told the crowds that Kosovo would belong to the Serbian people "as long as we live". |
| Meanwhile several hundred protesters attacked and broke into the city's US embassy, where flames were seen. | |
| There is a great feeling of sadness, not anger - we want it to be a peaceful protest, we want to show the world that Kosovo belongs to Serbia Jelena Subin class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7257318.stm">In pictures: Belgrade rally One protester is reported to have climbed onto the first floor and ripped the US flag from its pole. The building is currently closed. | |
| Earlier, on Serbia's de facto border with Kosovo, Serb army reservists attacked Kosovan police with stones and burned tyres. | |
| Most Serbs consider Kosovo their religious and cultural heartland. | |
| Prayers | Prayers |
| Protester Jelena Subin told the BBC it felt as if there were a million people at the Belgrade rally. | |
| "There is a great feeling of sadness, not anger. We want it to be a peaceful protest. We want to show the world that Kosovo belongs to Serbia," she said. | |
| Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica addressed the crowds from a large stage, draped in two huge Serbian flags and with a banner reading "Kosovo is Serbia" at the back. | Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica addressed the crowds from a large stage, draped in two huge Serbian flags and with a banner reading "Kosovo is Serbia" at the back. |
| "As long as we live, Kosovo is Serbia," he said to cheers and applause. "Kosovo belongs to the Serbian people." | "As long as we live, Kosovo is Serbia," he said to cheers and applause. "Kosovo belongs to the Serbian people." |
| "We'll never give up Kosovo, never!" the crowd responded. | "We'll never give up Kosovo, never!" the crowd responded. |
| "Is there any other nation on Earth from whom [the great powers] are demanding that they give up their identity, to give up our brothers in Kosovo?" he added. | "Is there any other nation on Earth from whom [the great powers] are demanding that they give up their identity, to give up our brothers in Kosovo?" he added. |
| Ultra-nationalist leader Tomislav Nikolic accused the US and EU of trying to steal Kosovo. | Ultra-nationalist leader Tomislav Nikolic accused the US and EU of trying to steal Kosovo. |
| "We will not rest until Kosovo is again under Serbia's control," he said. | "We will not rest until Kosovo is again under Serbia's control," he said. |
| "Hitler could not take it away from us, and neither will today's [Western powers]." | |
| Other speakers included Australian Open tennis champion Novak Djokovic, who addressed the crowd by video link. | Other speakers included Australian Open tennis champion Novak Djokovic, who addressed the crowd by video link. |
| After the speeches, the crowd marched to the city's biggest church, the Temple of Saint Sava, where prayers for Kosovo will be said by Serbian Orthodox archbishops. | |
| Border protest | |
| There was thick, black smoke billowing from the crossing point at Merdare, 50km (30 miles) north-east of Kosovo's capital Pristina. | |
| 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: KosovoTense confusion on border | |
| The Serbs waved large tricolour Serbian flags, chanted "Kosovo is Serbia" and tried to cross the border. | |
| "We are here in support of the Serbs who still live in Kosovo," Dejan Milosevic, one of the organisers, told the Associated Press news agency. | |
| "We want to tell them that we will not let Kosovo be taken away. We will fight to our last breath." | |
| The Kosovo police, backed by Czech troops from the Nato-led peacekeeping force, put a steel barrier across the road and were able to hold their line. | |
| The Serbs have now pulled back and ended their protest. | |
| Protest rallies were also held in the Bosnian Serb republic (Republika Srpska). There were unconfirmed reports of injuries as several hundred protesters clashed with police outside the US consulate in Banja Luka. | |
| The US, the UK, Germany and Italy have all recognised Kosovo. | The US, the UK, Germany and Italy have all recognised Kosovo. |
| In the coming weeks, an almost 2,000-strong EU mission will be deployed to help the country develop its police force and judiciary. | In the coming weeks, an almost 2,000-strong EU mission will be deployed to help the country develop its police force and judiciary. |
| Are you in Belgrade? Are you planning to attend the protest? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Belgrade? Are you planning to attend the protest? Send us your comments using the form below. |
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