Report: NATO Attack Hits Chinese Embassy Two Dozen Casualities Reported in Belgrade Attack
BELGRADE (May 8) - A NATO air raid hit the Chinese embassy in Belgrade late on Friday, injuring 26 people, a Yugoslav minister said on Saturday.
Goran Matic, Yugoslav minister without portfolio, told reporters outside the embassy 26 Chinese had been taken to hospital but no one was seriously injured.
''They're crazy, those NATO pilots,'' he said.
''NATO aircraft hit the Chinese embassy building in New Belgrade shortly before midnight,'' the Beta news agency said. ''People are being pulled out from the rubble.''
''The embassy was hit as four strong detonations were heard,'' the agency said. ''Explosions were heard in the wider Belgrade region and in New Belgrade.''
A Chinese diplomat on the scene told Reuters that around 20 people lived in the building.
''I left without shoes, I can't begin to tell you what it was like,'' said the diplomat, visibly very angry.
''This is a criminal act, they can see this is a completely residential area.''
At least three ambulances and four fire engines were outside the embassy, a large white marble building standing in its own grounds behind iron gates .
Thick smoke was coming from one part of the building and many windows were smashed.
The blasts came hours after Belgrade was plunged into darkness, with new NATO raids ending a three-day pause in the bombing.
The state news agency Tanjug said the Federal Interior Ministry was reported hit.
''NATO aircraft hit the Federal Interior Ministry building shortly before midnight,'' Tanjug said.
''Ambulances and fire brigades are heading towards the spot. This was the third attack on the Federal Interior Ministry building.''
Tanjug said the Yugoslav Defense Ministry was also hit.
REUTERS 19:25 05-07-99