China has criticised comments by the American Defence Secretary, William Cohen, accusing Beijing of exploiting public anger at the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade to stir up anti-US feeling.

A foreign ministry spokesman, Zhu Bangzao, said the United States should concentrate on responding to China's demands for a full explanation of the bombing rather than making what he called unwarranted remarks.

He reiterated that China would not allow the UN to debate a Yugoslav peace plan while the NATO bombing campaign continued. In Beijing street protests have faded.

The British embassy has re-opened but streets close to the American embassy remain tightly sealed following the attacks by demonstrators.