Serbia Blames US as Rallies Continue

Thousands protested peacefully in the streets of Kosovo today, chanting “Kosovo is Serbia” as officials blamed the US for the violence that has marred earlier demonstrations. “The United States is the main culprit for all those violent acts,” said Serbia's minister for Kosovo. Meanwhile the US cleared out its embassy, inviting other Americans to join staffers in a convoy fleeing Belgrade.

Serbia says Washington has itself to blame for protesters torching the US and EU embassies in Belgrade this week, killing one and injuring more than 100. “If the United States sticks to its present position that the fake state of Kosovo exists, all responsibility in the future will be on the United States,” said an adviser to Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica. (More Kosovo stories.)