Serb minister blames U.S. for anti-embassy riots

By Ivana Sekularac

BELGRADE (Reuters) - The United States was to blame for this week's attacks on foreign embassies in Belgrade, Serbia's minister for Kosovo said on Saturday, citing Washington's support for Kosovo's secession from Serbia.

Mobs stormed the U.S. embassy on Thursday and set it on fire and other diplomatic missions were stoned after a mostly peaceful mass protests against the former Serbian province's declaration of independence.

The attacks, which Serb officials blamed on "isolated vandals", were beamed across the world and condemned by the United Nations.

"The U.S. is the major culprit for all troubles since Feb 17," Slobodan Samardzic told the state news agency Tanjug, referring to the date when Serbia's Albanian-majority southern province declared independence.

"The root of violence is the violation of international law. The Serbian government will continue to call on the U.S. to take responsibility for violating international law and taking away a piece of territory from Serbia," he said.

The State Department has said family members and non-core personnel from the Belgrade mission will be relocated until security improves.

The ambassador and essential staff will stay, and the mission will re-open early next week, after repairs to the facade and parts of the embassy damaged by the fire.

A charred body that was found inside the building after police moved in to disperse the rioters has not been officially identified.