Serbs Protest Recognition of Kosovo

Protesters attacked the U.S. Embassy on Thursday in Belgrade, Serbia, storming the building and setting rooms on fire. More than 150,000 demonstrators attended the state-backed rally, which was a response to the United States' recognition of Kosovo as an independent state. The United States declared its decision on Monday, and many other countries have followed suit.

All embassy workers were unharmed, but one demonstrator was killed in the riot. The protest drew condemnation from Washington and the U.N. Security Council.

The U.S. State Department said the lack of protection for its mission — riot police were nowhere to be seen when the attack began on Thursday — was intolerable and demanded the Security Council respond.

"The members of the Security Council condemn in the strongest terms the mob attacks against embassies in Belgrade, which have resulted in damage to embassy premises and have endangered diplomatic personnel," the Security Council said in a unanimous statement.

Riot police did arrive later during the protest and fired teargas onto the demonstrators, which dispersed the crowd.

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic called the acts "absolutely unacceptable, absolutely regrettable."

And so do I.