BELGRADE (Reuters) - Angry Serbs stoned the U.S. embassy in Belgrade to protest at Kosovo's declaration of independence on Sunday, smashing windows before riot police appeared to regain the upper hand.
"Kosovo is the heart of Serbia," many shouted as up to 2,000 demonstrators, mostly young men, surrounded the embassy, which was guarded by more than 500 police in full riot gear.
Washington has strongly backed Kosovo's bid for independence.
Protesters chanting patriotic songs ripped up paving stones and prised concrete and tiles from nearby buildings to throw them at the police along with bottles, firecrackers and flares. The area was thick with smoke.
"Kill and hang them until there's no Albanians left!" cried some of the protesters.
Several police were taken away injured to a nearby ambulance, before police charged the demonstrators to chase them away from embassy, succeeding in dispersing most of the crowd.
Several windows were smashed in the building, where no lights were on.
Police detained several people. Some protesters were hurt and bleeding.
(Writing by Richard Meares)
