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A protester waves a Serbian flag prior to an anti-Kosovo independence rally in Belgrade, 21 Feb 2008
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A group of demonstrators protesting Kosovo's declaration of independence has broken into the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade.
Reports say protesters managed to enter the compound and set fire to the premises.
In Washington, a State Department spokesman, Sean McCormack urged Serbian authorties to devote the required assets to deal with the situation.
Protesters have also forced their way innto Croatia's embassy in the Serbian capital.
The break-ins occurred as about 150,000 demonstrators packed the streets of Belgrade to protest Kosovo's U.S.-backed declaration of independence.
Serbian President Boris Tadic and Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica had called for a peaceful Belgrade protest after Kosovo declared independence Sunday.
Elsewhere, several hundred Serbian army veterans burned tires and stoned police and NATO peacekeepers at a Kosovo-Serbia border crossing. A separate clash was reported in Bosnia-Herzegovina, where Serb demonstrators in Banja Luka stoned police, who fought back.
More than a dozen countries have formally recognized Kosovo's independence.
Earlier this week, Serbia began recalling its ambassadors from countries that support Kosovo independence.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
VOA News
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