CHINA: BEIJING: PROTESTS AGAINST BELGRADE EMBASSY BOMBING

(10 May 1999) Natural Sound As the diplomatic firestorm over the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade rages on, tempers continue to flare in Beijing on a third day of protests. Throngs of students and other protesters gathered once again outside the American embassy on Monday and were even ferried there on buses by the Chinese authorities. A line of riot police was on hand, but simply looked on as students chanted anti-U-S slogans and pelted the embassy with paint and rocks. As night-time came, the group’s numbers still remained strong at the compound where the U-S ambassador and other staff remained holed up inside. Day three and Chinese protesters gave no sign they are letting up in their protests outside the American embassy in Beijing. The crowd was still going strong on Monday night as they chanted anti-U-S slogans along the embassy’s gates. A long line of Chinese police in riot gear stood between them and the compound, but appear to take little interest as students lobbed stones over the gate at the embassy facade. The angry protests, attended largely by Chinese students, are in response to Friday’s mistaken bombing by NATO planes of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade. NATO said the strike was a mistake and blamed poor intelligence, but none of the explanations have provided any solace for outraged Chinese. Many harbour doubts over NATO’s claim that the attack was an accident, particularly since China was one of the most vocal opponents of the alliance’s air campaign against Yugoslavia. China’s government on Monday demanded a full apology from the U-S, whose Central Intelligence Agency is being blamed for the intelligence error. China also said it was severing relations with the U-S in several key areas, including human rights and arms control. Facing the largest demonstrations since those in Tiananmen Square ten years ago, the government has accommodated for the current protests while appealing for calm in the city. The student demonstrators seem to have relatively free reign as they carry on with their protest, and the splattered wall of the embassy covered in paint was an indication that they are finding little resistance. With riot police were out in force around the embassy grounds, U-S Ambassador James Sasser and other American officials remained holed up inside, fearful for their safety. Sasser has even ordered sensitive papers in the embassy destroyed, clearly preparing in case the situation gets any worse. Over the weekend, China’s state media reported protests in at least 20 cities nationwide. As the situation intensifies, the U-S government is taking no chances. It has issued an advisory warning for Americans to postpone travel to China until things stabilises and has suspended travel to China by all U-S government employees. Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: ​​ Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive: