Streets calm as Beijing plays down 1999 attack on Belgrade embassy to prevent unrest

Beijing yesterday played down the anniversary of the Nato bombing of its embassy in Belgrade, apparently reluctant to fuel anti-American sentiment.

Returning from the week-long national holidays, students from the capital's campuses - which have been hotbeds of nationalism, were silent about the second anniversary of the bombing on May 7, 1999 - or May 8 according to Chinese time - during the Nato campaign against Yugoslavia.

Beijing University sources said students still had negative feelings towards the United States, but they had been discouraged from launching any anti-US protests to mark the anniversary out of fears it might lead to unrest.

Streets around the US Embassy - which were packed with stone-throwing demonstrators two years ago - were quiet, while the security presence was normal.

Most state papers yesterday did not mention the bombing, which killed three Chinese nationals - one journalist from the official Xinhua and two from the official Guangming Daily - injured more than 20 and sparked a wave of state-orchestrated anti-US protests in mainland cities.

But about 100 friends and relatives of the three victims, including a delegation of about 50 editors and reporters from the Guangming Daily, gathered for a quiet graveside ceremony at Babaoshan yesterday afternoon.

'We all miss you very much,' said Zhu Fulai, who lost daughter Zhu Ying and son-in-law Xu Xinghu during the bombing by US-led Nato forces.