US views from Belgrade

About 1,000 protesters set fire to the US embassy on Thursday

The US has ordered the temporary evacuation of all non-essential embassy staff in Belgrade after the US embassy was set ablaze.

The attack on the embassy was triggered by anger at Kosovo's declaration of independence, which the US recognised.

Do US citizens living in the Serbian capital feel under threat in the wake of the protests?

Photographer Russell Gordon, originally from Chicago, has been living in the Balkans for 12 years. He says he is not worried by an increase in violence he says was orchestrated by "hooligans".

Russell Gordon says there is anti-US sentiment, but he feels safe

"There is a lot of resentment against the US here, due to US policy being slanted against Serbs.

"The Serb nation is angry. But in all the time I have been here, even when Serbia was attacked by Nato warplanes, I have never felt any threat because of where I'm from," he said.

"Kosovo's independence is an emotionally-charged issue for the Serbian people.

"But for anyone to imply that this was an orchestrated attack, or that a group of a few hundred hooligans - out of hundreds of thousands of peaceful protesters - were inspired by the statements of Serbian government ministers is inaccurate.

"The protesters who attacked the embassy were not even wearing national symbols.

Smoke and tear gas engulfed the streets around the embassy

"Personally, the only way I would have been in a position to be targeted was if I was right in amongst them as they were attacking the embassy. But so would any other photographer, even Serbs. They were just looking for easy targets.

"I walk on the streets day or night here, do not hide my national origin, and am perfectly safe," he said.

"That has not changed."

'E Hofer', an American who has worked in Belgrade for the last two years, said in an email to the BBC News website:

"As for blaming the US for recognising Kosovo, this was the only option available.

"If there's any blame it lies within Serbia's own history sadly, due to the way that the situation was handled by Milosevic and his response to the situation in Kosovo."