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Serbian diplomats’ death to cause negative public reaction in Serbia — ambassador

Earlier, it was reported that two employees of the Serbian embassy in Tripoli, abducted by militants in November 2015, were killed Friday as a result of a US Air Force air strike at the IS camp

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MOSCOW, February 20. /TASS/. The death of Serbian diplomats in Libya as a result of a US airstrike will cause emotional reaction on the part of Serbian nationals, Serbia’s ambassador to Russia Slavenko Terzic said on Rossiya 24 television channel.

"It can be expected that after all our different tragedies in the past 20 years, NATO bombings in the 1990s, public opinion is again in such a national mood. These were our citizens, employees of the embassy in Libya. In my view, this may cause a very emotional reaction in our people," Terzic said.

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He said the Serbian government had not ruled out that the diplomats, killed in Libya as s result of US airstrikes, could have been released shortly afterwards.

"Our special services were in contact with the Libyan authorities and some other foreign special services," Terzic said.

"These contacts said the release of those people could soon be expected. The government of Serbia tried to do its best to free them," he said underscoring that the Serbian authorities had plans to conduct a special operation to free the hostages.

Earlier, it was reported that two employees of the Serbian embassy in Tripoli, abducted by militants in November 2015, were killed Friday as a result of a US Air Force air strike at the camp of the Islamic State terrorist organization, which is banned in Russia, in Libya.

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic on Saturday confirmed the death of the Serbian embassy officials. He stated that they were killed by "American bombs" but said that Serbia needs "the United States as a friend and partner, not as an enemy."

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, on his part, said Serbia will demand explanations from the United States in connection with the death of the diplomats.

Belgrade saw on Saturday a protest rally against the country’s rapprochement with NATO. The participants carried Serbian flags, posters with anti-NATO mottos and portraits of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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