Angry crowds in Damascus attacked the embassies of Morocco and the United Arab Emirates Wednesday. Morocco responded by recalling its ambassador toSyria, according to AFP news agency. France also said it was withdrawing its ambassador.
“There has been renewed violence in Syria, which has led me to close our consular offices in Aleppo and in Latakia as well as our cultural institutes and to recall our ambassador to Paris,” said French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe.
More and more clashes are being reported between the army and pro-democracy opponents who now call themselves the Free Syrian Army, with Tuesday’s attack on a military complex outside Damascus suggesting the country is now sliding towards full-scale civil war.
The Arab League has given Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad three days to stop the bloody repression of protesters or it will impose sanctions.
As part of its deal, the Arab League wants to send 500 monitors to Syria, including members of human rights groups, media representatives, and military observers.
The Arab League’s chief Nabil al-Arabi said “everything must be done to stop the continuing bloodshed in Syria.”
In the meantime, the bloc was drafting plans for economic sanctions against Syria, and given the regime three days to respond.
