February 22, 2008: Serbian President Boris Tadic called for an emergency meeting of the national security in the aftermath of violence following Kosovo’s declaration of independence. The United States, Britain, France and Germany have formally recognized Kosovo.
In northern Kosovo, a traditional Serbian stronghold, demonstrators waved Serbian flags.
Serbian police said one person died and more than 150 people were injured in unrest which erupted after a state-sponsored rally. Nearly 200 people were arrested and 90 shops ransacked, police said in a statement.
Nearly 200,000 demonstrated in downtown Belgrade against Kosovo independence. Rioters stormed the U.S. Embassy and set fire to offices and security checkpoints on the sidewalk in front of the building.
The tensions have exposed the deep rift within the country's unstable coalition government, prompting speculation that nationalist anger over Kosovo was providing support to those who want to move Serbia away from the European Union and closer to its traditional ally Russia.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Kosovo: Independence, Instability, Violence
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2 comments:
The Russian backed Serb Government is obviously finding that inciting Serb mob violence isn't achieving much. Except to demonstrate why Serbia is steadily losing its Yugoslav mini Empire.
On a larger scale East European countries are steadily deserting the Russia (Soviet Bloc) that the Tsars and Stalin built.
But all is not lost Russia probably has about as much oil and gas as Saudi Arabia and when added to its military resurgence Russia may become an energy superpower.
So the hapless Eastern European Nato states may return to the Russian orbit - whether they like it or not.
They know what its like to be a Latin American (under the continuing Monroe Doctrine ;)
Pete
You have a most interesting blog.
Stay on groovin' safari,
Tor
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