BELGRADE, SERBIA — Angry Serbs protesting Kosovo's independence stormed the U.S. Embassy on Thursday night and set it on fire, as the fringes of a large and generally peaceful demonstration sponsored by the Serbian government turned violent.
Serbian police drove off the protesters, some chanting "Down with USA terror" and "Kill the Albanians," and firefighters brought the blaze under control. A charred body, which U.S. officials said was probably that of a protester, was found in the embassy.
At least 96 people were injured, B92 radio reported, including 32 police officers and four reporters.
The Bush administration expressed outrage, filed a formal complaint and accused the Serbian government of failing to protect the diplomatic mission. The Serbian government also condemned the violence.
The rampage was the latest in daily demonstrations by Serbs against Kosovo's announcement Sunday that it was seceding from Serbia. The United States is among the mostly Western countries recognizing the new state; Russia, China and others adamantly oppose the move.
"Where is Kosovo? Whose is Kosovo?" Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica demanded, his voice cracking with rage Thursday as he launched the demonstration.
"Kosovo belongs to the Serbian people," he continued. "There is no force, no threat and no punishment big and hideous enough for any Serb, at any time, to say anything but 'Kosovo is Serbia!' "
An estimated 150,000 Serbs marched from the parliament to St. Sava Cathedral in downtown Belgrade and prayed with leaders of the Serbian Orthodox Church to lament the loss of Kosovo, a cherished site of the country's religious heritage but also home to about 2 million ethnic Albanians who chafed under Serbian rule.
A number of analysts say most Serbs are resigned to losing Kosovo, and the turnout Thursday fell below the government's expectations. Still, the so-called people's rally was the largest demonstration since Serbs mobilized in October 2000 to oust dictator Slobodan Milosevic.
Observers worried about the violence spreading from Belgrade to Kosovo, where there have been incidents on the border. On Thursday, Serb protesters again burned tires and threw stones at U.N. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces guarding the border and blocking Serbs from crossing.
In Belgrade, Kostunica and other nationalist politicians led the rally. Children were given the day off from school and people were bused in from all over the country.
