Western Governments Expel Syrian Diplomats

Dahlia Kholaif
businessweek.com
May 29, 2012

Western governments today announced the expulsion of top Syrian diplomats as United Nations envoy Kofi Annan met President Bashar al-Assad to express horror at the massacre of more than 100 people in Houla.

French President Francois Hollande said the Syrian ambassador was to be expelled, hours after Australia announced a similar move, citing the May 25 killings in Houla. Britain is sending home the most senior Syrian diplomat in London, the Press Association reported, while Germany and Italy are planning the same step, Sueddeutsche Zeitung said. Spain is withdrawing the credentials of the Syrian ambassador, DPA reported, while Canada said all remaining diplomats are being told to leave.

The UN Security Council condemned the killings on May 27. The world organization’s human rights office today told Associated Press that at least 108 people died, including 49 children, and that most were shot at close range.

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This article was posted: Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at 6:50 am

Tags: foreign affairs, terrorism

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