By IRNA
Belgrade : The United Nations has condemned the Serbian protesters who stormed US embassy and set it on fire, leaving one person dead.
The United States has ordered all non-essential staff to leave Belgrade after the American embassy was set alight by rioters in the Serbian capital.
Some 200,000 people had rallied in the city to demonstrate against Kosovo’s independence when dozens of protesters, many wearing balaclavas, attacked the building.
A crowd of about 1,000 cheered “Serbia, Serbia” as one ripped the US flag off its pole and others jumped up and down on a balcony.
Smoke billowed out of the embassy as papers and chairs were thrown out of windows and burning doors were wedged in the frames.
A charred body was later recovered from the building. Officials said it was not that of a US citizen.
Hospital officials said around 150 people were injured in street clashes, including 30 police and some journalists.
The Serbian government said it regretted what it called acts of isolated vandals who did not represent a nation which, while bitter at Kosovo’s declaration of independence on Sunday, did not want further violence.
“The acts that were committed are absolutely unacceptable, absolutely regrettable,” said Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic.
“They hurt Serbia’s image abroad.”