Today's Story Line

While Serbian atrocities continue against ethnic Albanians, the world this weekend focused on NATO's errant bombing of China's Embassy in Belgrade. Why? China's support will be critical in any UN Security Council solution to the war. Quote of note: "After [the bombing of the embassy], there is no diplomacy." - Goran Matic, a Yugoslav minister.

Public outrage in China over NATO's killing of at least three of its citizens is partly orchestrated. Yesterday, the government approved the first street protests in more than 20 years. Quote of note: "The Chinese government is trying to use these protests to bolster its legitimacy and fashion itself as the great protector of the Chinese people." - Western diplomat.

Some of the 20,000 Chinese living in Yugoslavia protested the embassy bombing as well. Their presence there reflects interesting historic ties and their hopes of reaching Western Europe.

A restaurant fire on the island of Corsica has created intense political intrigue in France. Quote of note: "It is the first time that we have seen free, independent, rapid, dignified, and discreet justice at work." - Paul Giacobbi, a prominent Corsican political leader.

- Clayton Jones, World editor

REPORTERS ON THE JOB *COLLATERAL DAMAGE: Usually, the US citizenship of Beijing bureau chief Kevin Platt affords him protection in China. During 1989 protests in Tiananmen Square, pro-democracy students eagerly talked to him. But yesterday, after a NATO bomb hit China's embassy in Belgrade, Beijing police saw Kevin standing in the angry crowd outside the US Embassy and started jostling him, which inspired the anti-US protesters to surround him and begin kicking him. A few Chinese friends who spotted Kevin - and a Chinese journalist who asked Kevin if he was a journalist - pulled him safely away from the mob.

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