Serbia: U.S. to blame for violence
a.. Serbia hunting rioters behind deadly violence in Belgrade
b.. Authorities say 200 people are under arrest
c.. Senior minister blames U.S. for violence against Kosovo independence
(CNN) -- Serbian prosecutors said Saturday they were hunting rioters who
targeted the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade leaving one person dead while a
senior
Serbian minister re****tedly blamed Wa****ngton for the violence triggered
by
Kosovo's breakaway.
Authorities said they had arrested nearly 200 rioters who took part in the
violence on Thursday that prompted the United States to evacuate
non-essential
embassy staff and warn Serbia it would be held responsible.
"We are collecting evidence and are identifying the culprits," Slobodan
Radovanovic said in a statement, according to The Associated Press.
Serbia's Kosovo minister Slobodan Samardzic said Saturday that the U.S. --
which
backed Kosovo's breakaway and was among the first countries to recognize
its
seccession -- was the "main culprit" for the violence, AP re****ted.
Also Saturday, about 2,000 Serb protesters were marching through the
ethnically
divided town of Mitrovica in a sixth day of demonstrations, AP re****ted.
U.N. police in riot gear had formed a cordon across the main bridge
separating
the tense town's Serb and ethnic Albanian sides.
Thursday's violence in Belgrade was some of the worst unrest in Serbia
since the
removal of strongman Slobodan Milosevic in 2000. Watch re****t on how
tensions
are simmering in Serbia. »
Speaking to CNN on Friday, a top U.S. diplomat said Serbia had a
"fundamental
responsibility" to protect U.S. diplomats and citizens, adding that
Wa****ngton
would hold Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and his government
"personally responsible" for assaults on U.S. interests.
"What happened yesterday in Belgrade was absolutely reprehensible,"
Undersecretary for Political Affairs R. Nicholas Burns said. "This kind of
thing
should not happen in a civilized country."
Thursday's violence was part of a much bigger, peaceful demonstration
where up
to 150,000 people chanted "Kosovo is Serbia," and vowed to never accept
the
province's independence.
The U.S. Embassy's consular section remained closed on Friday as officials
were
advised to stay at home amid continuing fears over anti-Western protests,
according to a statement on the embassy Web site.
The Embassy warned American citizens to avoid areas of demonstration and
to
exercise "extreme caution."
Also Friday, Russia -- which has not recognized Kosovo's sovereignty --
said it
has not ruled out using force to resolve the dispute over the territory if
NATO
forces breach the terms of their U.N. mandate.
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