Serbia: U.S. to blame for violence

(CNN) -- Serbian prosecutors said Saturday they were hunting rioters who targeted the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade leaving one person dead while a senior Serbian minister reportedly blamed Washington for the violence triggered by Kosovo's breakaway.

Authorities said they had arrested nearly 200 rioters who took part in the violence on Thursday that prompted the United States to evacuate non-essential embassy staff and warn Serbia it would be held responsible.

"We are collecting evidence and are identifying the culprits," Slobodan Radovanovic said in a statement, according to The Associated Press.

Serbia's Kosovo minister Slobodan Samardzic said Saturday that the U.S. -- which backed Kosovo's breakaway and was among the first countries to recognize its seccession -- was the "main culprit" for the violence, AP reported.

Also Saturday, about 2,000 Serb protesters were marching through the ethnically divided town of Mitrovica in a sixth day of demonstrations, AP reported.

U.N. police in riot gear had formed a cordon across the main bridge separating the tense town's Serb and ethnic Albanian sides.

Thursday's violence in Belgrade was some of the worst unrest in Serbia since the removal of strongman Slobodan Milosevic in 2000. Watch report on how tensions are simmering in Serbia. »

Speaking to CNN on Friday, a top U.S. diplomat said Serbia had a "fundamental responsibility" to protect U.S. diplomats and citizens, adding that Washington would hold Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and his government "personally responsible" for assaults on U.S. interests.

"What happened yesterday in Belgrade was absolutely reprehensible," Undersecretary for Political Affairs R. Nicholas Burns said. "This kind of thing should not happen in a civilized country."

Thursday's violence was part of a much bigger, peaceful demonstration where up to 150,000 people chanted "Kosovo is Serbia," and vowed to never accept the province's independence.

The U.S. Embassy's consular section remained closed on Friday as officials were advised to stay at home amid continuing fears over anti-Western protests, according to a statement on the embassy Web site.

The Embassy warned American citizens to avoid areas of demonstration and to exercise "extreme caution."

Also Friday, Russia -- which has not recognized Kosovo's sovereignty -- said it has not ruled out using force to resolve the dispute over the territory if NATO forces breach the terms of their U.N. mandate. E-mail to a friend

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