Serbs protest Kosovo in Bosnia

BANJA LUKA, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Serb protesters in Bosnia-Herzegovina threw stones at police Tuesday during a rally against Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia.

The protesters tried to march on the U.S. consulate in the Bosnian capital of Banja Luka, but police reportedly dispersed the crowd with tear gas, the BBC reported.

The United States and other countries have recognized Kosovo's independence. Serbia, supported by Russia and China, says Kosovo's declaration Feb. 17 violates international law.

About 10,000 Bosnian Serbs participated in the rally, chanting: "Kosovo is Serbia" and "We will not give the Serbian soul to the devil."

Some demanded independence for Republika Srpska, one of two political entities making up Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Addressing the rally, Bosnian Serb Prime Minister Milorad Dodik said, "As long as we live here, we will not recognize Kosovo as independent."

A group splintered from the largely peaceful protest and headed toward the U.S. embassy, the BBC reported. Protesters broke shop windows and threw rocks at police who blocked streets leading to the facility.

Last week a man died after the U.S. embassy in Belgrade, Serbia, was torched during a protest. Embassies of other nations that recognized Kosovo's independence also were vandalized.