Croatia champions cancel trip to Belgrade after riots

Croatian champions Cibona Zagreb cancelled a trip to Belgrade on Friday after Croatia's foreign ministry said it would be too risky in the light of recent unrest in both countries.
Rioters in Belgrade attacked several foreign embassies on Thursday, including Croatia's, after a mass rally against Western support for Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia last Sunday.
A group of Croatian soccer fans burnt the Serbian flag in Zagreb's main square on Thursday and police arrested 44 people.
"Following our own assessment of the situation and recommendations of our ambassador in Serbia, the ministry advised Cibona not to travel to Belgrade," said a Croatian ministry statement carried by state news agency Hina.
Cibona were already halfway to Belgrade when they were advised to turn back. They were due to face the top Serbian team, Partizan Belgrade, in a regional championship game on Saturday.
Partizan president Djordje Colovic told Serbian news agency Tanjug the safety of Croatian players was not at risk and that his club would demand the match be awarded to them.
Croatia's foreign ministry advised its citizens earlier this week to be careful if travelling to Serbia or Kosovo and to avoid any large public gatherings.
Croatia broke away from Serbian-led Yugoslavia in 1991 and waged a war with its own Serb minority until 1995.
Croatia and Serbia have established diplomatic ties but sports competitions involving the two countries have remained fraught with tension and the potential for violence.