Riyadh: Saudi Arabia may be forced to shut
its embassy in Damascus due to the ruling regime`s unrelenting
and violent repression of protesters, Al-Watan daily reported
on Friday.
"After reducing its diplomatic staff to a bare minimum,
the kingdom is leaning towards closing its embassy in Syria
because of the continued violence practiced by the regime
against its citizens," the report said, citing an "informed
source."
Riyadh is "anxious to protect its citizens and diplomatic
mission of any risk because Syria has become a danger zone
where dozens are killed every day," the report continued.
Saudi Arabia, which has great clout in the Arab world,
broke with its tradition of diplomatic discretion to
publically condemn the violence practiced by its former ally
Syria.
Saudi Arabia on August 8 recalled its ambassador to
Damascus and last month urged its citizens to leave the
country where ruling regime`s repression has claimed more
than 5,000 civilian lives, according to UN estimates.
PTI
