Party time.
Several hundred protesters have attacked the US and other embassies in Serbia's capital in anger at Western support for Kosovo's independence.
Protesters broke into the US compound and briefly set part of the embassy alight. Firemen later found an unidentified charred body inside.
The UK, Belgian, Croatian and Turkish missions were also attacked.
The violence followed a peaceful rally earlier by at least 150,000 people outside the main parliament building.
The US, UK, Germany and Italy are among those to have recognised Kosovo.
Earlier, Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica delivered an impassioned speech condemning the territory's secession.
"As long as we live, Kosovo is Serbia. Kosovo belongs to the Serbian people," he told the flag-waving crowd.
Most Serbs regard Kosovo as their religious and cultural heartland.
Ripped flag
In New York the US ambassador to the United Nations, Zalmay Khalilzad, expressed outrage at the attack, and said he would ask for a Security Council condemnation.
He said the Serbian government should be reminded "of its responsibility to protect diplomatic facilities".
The main rally outside parliament was peaceful
Serbian President Boris Tadic appealed for calm.
"This only keeps Kosovo distant from Serbia," he said.
About 1,000 protesters attacked the building, throwing flares through the window while others scaled walls to rip down the US flag.
At the time there appeared to be no police protecting the embassy, but riot police later intervened, firing tear gas.
The fires raged for half an hour, and when firemen finally managed to get inside the building they found a charred body.
The body has not been identified, though US officials said all embassy staff of US nationality had been accounted for.
State department spokesman Sean McCormack said the protesters had entered the chancellery but did not breach the embassy's secure area, and the entire compound had now been cleared.
Washington received assurances from Mr Kostunica that there would be no repeat of the incident, he added.
Kosovo 'stolen'
Several other embassies were also attacked by crowds. There are reports of various businesses and restaurants being attacked.
Up to 100 people are believed to have been injured.
Serbia, supported by Russia and China, says Kosovo's Sunday declaration violates international law.
During Thursday's rally, ultra-nationalist leader Tomislav Nikolic accused the US and EU of trying to steal Kosovo.
"Hitler could not take it away from us, and neither will today's [Western powers]."
After the speeches, the crowd marched to the city's biggest church, the Temple of Saint Sava.
Thick, black smoke had also earlier billowed from the crossing point at
Merdare, 50km (30 miles) north-east of Kosovo's capital Pristina, as Serb army reservists tried to enter Kosovo.
"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.
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.
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.
In the coming weeks, an almost 2,000-strong EU mission will be deployed to help the country develop its police force and judiciary.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7256158.stm
Several hundred protesters have attacked the US and other embassies in Serbia's capital in anger at Western support for Kosovo's independence.
Protesters broke into the US compound and briefly set part of the embassy alight. Firemen later found an unidentified charred body inside.
The UK, Belgian, Croatian and Turkish missions were also attacked.
The violence followed a peaceful rally earlier by at least 150,000 people outside the main parliament building.
The US, UK, Germany and Italy are among those to have recognised Kosovo.
Earlier, Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica delivered an impassioned speech condemning the territory's secession.
"As long as we live, Kosovo is Serbia. Kosovo belongs to the Serbian people," he told the flag-waving crowd.
Most Serbs regard Kosovo as their religious and cultural heartland.
Ripped flag
In New York the US ambassador to the United Nations, Zalmay Khalilzad, expressed outrage at the attack, and said he would ask for a Security Council condemnation.
He said the Serbian government should be reminded "of its responsibility to protect diplomatic facilities".
The main rally outside parliament was peaceful
Serbian President Boris Tadic appealed for calm.
"This only keeps Kosovo distant from Serbia," he said.
About 1,000 protesters attacked the building, throwing flares through the window while others scaled walls to rip down the US flag.
At the time there appeared to be no police protecting the embassy, but riot police later intervened, firing tear gas.
The fires raged for half an hour, and when firemen finally managed to get inside the building they found a charred body.
The body has not been identified, though US officials said all embassy staff of US nationality had been accounted for.
State department spokesman Sean McCormack said the protesters had entered the chancellery but did not breach the embassy's secure area, and the entire compound had now been cleared.
Washington received assurances from Mr Kostunica that there would be no repeat of the incident, he added.
Kosovo 'stolen'
Several other embassies were also attacked by crowds. There are reports of various businesses and restaurants being attacked.
Up to 100 people are believed to have been injured.
Serbia, supported by Russia and China, says Kosovo's Sunday declaration violates international law.
During Thursday's rally, ultra-nationalist leader Tomislav Nikolic accused the US and EU of trying to steal Kosovo.
"Hitler could not take it away from us, and neither will today's [Western powers]."
After the speeches, the crowd marched to the city's biggest church, the Temple of Saint Sava.
Thick, black smoke had also earlier billowed from the crossing point at
Merdare, 50km (30 miles) north-east of Kosovo's capital Pristina, as Serb army reservists tried to enter Kosovo.
"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.
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.
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.
In the coming weeks, an almost 2,000-strong EU mission will be deployed to help the country develop its police force and judiciary.
KOSOVO PROFILE
-Population about two million
-Majority ethnic Albanian; 10% Serb
-Under UN control since Nato drove out Serb forces in 1999
-2,000-strong EU staff to take over from UN after independence
-Recognised by US, UK, Germany, Italy and France
-Not recognised by Russia, Spain, Slovakia, Cyprus
-Nato to stay to provide security
-Population about two million
-Majority ethnic Albanian; 10% Serb
-Under UN control since Nato drove out Serb forces in 1999
-2,000-strong EU staff to take over from UN after independence
-Recognised by US, UK, Germany, Italy and France
-Not recognised by Russia, Spain, Slovakia, Cyprus
-Nato to stay to provide security
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7256158.stm
