Police fired tear gas protesters in Banja Luka, RS, to prevent them from storming the U.S. consulate after protests against Kosovo's independence, the AP reported.

Several people were injured and police made a number of arrests at the rally, the BBC said.

The demonstrators had chanted "Kosovo is Serbia" as they tried to get to the U.S. mission.

About 10,000 demonstrators took part in the largely peaceful rally.

"We will not give the Serbian soul to the devil," they chanted.

Some demanded independence for the RS. Addressing the rally, Prime Minister Milorad Dodik said the gathering was "a democratic, human revolt".

"This badge that I have on reads 'Kosovo is Serbia' and I will always tell this to everyone," he said.

"As long as we live here, we will not recognize Kosovo as independent," Dodik said.

Later a group split from the protest to head towards the U.S. consulate, which was closed last week because of threats.

Protesters broke shop windows and threw stones at police who blocked the streets leading to the building with armored vehicles.