Serbian riot policemen guard the entrance of the United States embassy in Belgrade. Internet surfers in Serbia were aghast Friday at footage of a pair of "Riot Girls" shamelessly taking advantage of riots in the capital Belgrade to go on a looting spree.

Internet surfers in Serbia were aghast Friday at footage of a pair of "Riot Girls" shamelessly taking advantage of riots in the capital Belgrade to go on a looting spree.

The video clip, which has become an unlikely hit after being posted on the videosharing website YouTube, shows the two young women going from shop to shop and helping themselves to anything from chocolates to designer clothes.

The link www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VWZoKWBYXE had received well over 2,000 comments within 24 hours of being posted.

The video entitled "Kosovo for a pair of sneakers," was uploaded by a user called "Gvantanamo" (eds:correct), who described it as "Belgrade chicks use riots and shamelessly steal from smashed up boutiques."

"They are so greedy and even carry goods in their teeth," added "Gvantanamo".

In the footage, the two blondes can be seen stealing from a ransacked grocery store, picking up chocolates and drinks, before rushing into an adidas shop that had been broken into, bagging shoes and jackets.

It was apparently filmed by someone on a mobile phone camera.

The unidentified cameramen kept asking them for their names, but one of the girls only shouted "Go away, stop filming," as the other tried to pick up stolen goods that had fallen out of her hands.

Serbian police said almost 200 people were detained after the rioting, which broke out after a government-organised rally to show Serbia's opposition to Kosovo's independence.

© 2008 AFP