Peace Plan Highlights | Photo Gallery | Strike Assessment | News Video Archive | Strike at a Glance | Who's Who | Roots of the Conflict | Story Archive | Links | Discussion

Albanian-Americans plead for ground troops at White House rally

Albanian-American children gather Wednesday in Lafayette Park across from the White House to support NATO bombings of Yugoslavia

March 31, 1999
Web posted at: 7:20 p.m. EST (2235 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Hundreds of people rallied across from the White House on Wednesday to demonstrate their support for a greater U.S. role protecting Kosovo -- including the hope that ground troops will be deployed in the war-torn Yugoslav province.

The rally, organized by the National Albanian American Council (NAAC), included the burning of a Yugoslav flag and a march around the perimeter of Lafayette Park, across from the White House.

Demonstrators urged a greater American and NATO deployment against Serbian troops and called for the arming of ethnic Albanian rebels in Kosovo and the indictment of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic as a war criminal.

"NATO cannot afford to lose this war. Albanians cannot afford to lose this war," said Ilir Zherka, the council's executive director.

Ground troops inevitable, Albanian leader says

Zherka told CNN that ground troops are inevitable. He characterized the NATO mission so far as "unsuccessful" because it has failed to achieve its goals of stopping genocide and preventing regional instability, he said. said.

"Without ground troops, this war is going to be lost," he added.

"Our message is also to President Clinton, the American public and NATO -- NATO's mission is in doubt. We cannot allow that to happen," he said.

U.S. Park Police, in keeping with policy, refused to offer an official crowd estimate. The Associated Press estimated the crowd at about 2,000.

Meanwhile, in New York, about 700 Serb and anti-war protesters rallied during rush hour, accusing the media of wrongly presenting the issues behind the bombing of Yugoslavia.

News Highlights: Gallery: The conflict in review News story archive Yugoslavia's Future: What's next for Yugoslavia Map: Who controls what The Peace Settlement: A guide to the peace plan Map: Serb troop withdrawal The Military Campaign: Strike damage assessment Atlas: NATO and the Balkans Background: Timeline: Trouble in the Balkans A who's who of key players Map: Kosovo and its neighbors A history of the KLA

Shouting "Kosovo is Serbia" and carrying signs with messages including "America: Stop Clinton Now," the demonstrators gathered outside Grand Central Station and marched to the headquarters of the New York Times on West 43rd Street.

The theme of the rally was "March for Truth" and targeted the Times and other media organizations for what protesters said was the misrepresentation of the issues that led to NATO's Operation Allied Force.

The demonstration was organized by the International Action Center, an anti-war group opposed to U.S. military intervention anywhere in the world.

Clinton meets with Albanian leaders

In Washington, Albanian leaders were invited to meet with National Security Adviser Samuel Berger and his aides. President Clinton dropped by the meeting for about 15 minutes.

Afterward, Avni Mustafaj, NAAC president, said Clinton had stressed the importance of success in Kosovo. Mustafaj quoted the president as saying during the meeting, "We cannot lose this. We have to win this."

But National Security spokesman David Leavy, who sat in on the meeting, said the Albanians were clearly told that the United States has no intention of introducing ground troops into Kosovo.

"There was no ambiguity," Leavy said.

During the Albanian rally, a State Department official drew strong cheers and applause as he promised U.S. support for substantial self-government for the people of Kosovo.

Larry Rosson, director of Central and Eastern European Affairs, said the United States continues to believe a settlement is possible to allow Kosovars "control over their own lives, as they have not had."

Rosson acknowledged that "the longer the situation goes on, the more concern that's raised" about the prospects of such an accord. But he said, "We believe such a settlement is still viable, and that's what we're working toward."

Police warned group organizers not to confront any counter-demonstrators, who in recent days have also used Lafayette Park to protest any deployment of ground troops. No opponents were seen.

Participants were also warned not to set fire to anything, but that was ignored as demonstrators soaked a Yugoslavian flag in lighter fluid, ripped the banner, then set it on fire. Police took no action.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.