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UN Security Council condemns attack on US embassy in Belgrade

By RIA Novosti

United Nations : The UN Security Council Friday condemned attacks on the US embassy in Belgrade by rioters protesting Kosovo’s independence.

The Security Council’s statement urged Serbs to stay within international law and to respect the status of diplomatic missions.

More than 150 people were injured when the demonstration by some 250,000 protestors turned into running street battles with the police in the Serbian capital Belgrade Thursday.

Rioters attacked the embassies of the US, Croatia, Belgium and Turkey, throwing stones and Molotov cocktails. The US embassy suffered extensive damage and several floors were set on fire.

Washington said all US diplomats were safe.

The police used tear-gas to disperse the crowd. Hustled away from the embassies, the rioters – mostly youths – moved down the streets looting and damaging shops, kiosks and setting cars alight.

Serbian President Boris Tadic, on a visit to Romania, called in a TV address for the riots to stop. The police were unable to restore control until far into the night. About a hundred people are reported to have been arrested.