1 000s of angry Serbs protest

2008-02-21 12:49

Belgrade - Thousands of angry Serbs were converging on Belgrade on Thursday to attend a rally to protest Kosovo's independence, raising fears that the gathering could trigger street violence.

Schools were closed and the state railway company made free trains available to bring protesters to the rally.

Local media reports on Thursday morning said crowds of thousands were already making their way to the capital for the afternoon rally.

Organisers say the "Kosovo is Ours" event will demonstrate Serbia's commitment to holding on to the province of two million people.

Kosovo declared independence on Sunday and more than a dozen nations have recognised it so far, including the US, Britain, France and Germany.

Fears of renewed rioting

But the move has been rejected by Serbia's nationalist government along with the ethnic Serbians who populate northern Kosovo. Russia, China and numerous other nations also have condemned the move, saying it sets a precedent that separatist groups around the world will seek to emulate.

There are fears that Thursday's rally could spark renewed rioting by ultra-nationalists who attacked the US Embassy, McDonald's restaurants and other Western interests in the capital earlier this week.

They also attacked the offices of the pro-Western Liberal Democratic Party in several towns.

"We are convinced that the state organs are behind these attacks," the party said in an open letter to the government published on Thursday in the media.

Critics say attacks could be a prelude to the silencing of the opposition and pro-Western politicians in the Balkan republic, reminiscent of the era when the country was run by Slobodan Milosevic.

His regime also organised giant rallies by bussing in supporters and schoolchildren to demonstrate public support for the wars Serbia waged in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo.

- AP