Belgrade US Embassy Attack

The US Embassy in Belgrade was set on fire on Thurdsay, February 21, 2008. Protesters broke into the building and set it on fire to protest against the United States support for Kosovo independence. The building was unmanned, as the embassy was closed for security reasons on Tuesday, following two days of rioting. Fast Facts

1. Although unmanned by embassy staff, one dead body has been found in the building - possibly a security guard
2. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008
3. Before that Kosovo was a province of Serbia
4. Many Serbs were deeply unhappy with the declaration and US and European support for it
5. Kosovo's Albanians have long favored independence from Serbia
6. A UN plan drafted by Martti Ahtisaari proposed a roadmap to Kosovo independence
7. Riots and violence followed the declaration
8. 150,000 people gathered in Belgrade in protest - leading to the attack on the US Embassy
9. Protesters set fire to the embassy flag
10. Belgrade is the capital of Serbia

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