Pro-Syrian regime storm US and French embassies in Damascus

(Dp-news)

DAMASCUS- As the consultative meeting for comprehensive national dialogue continued activities on Monday morning at Sahara Complex in the presence of Vice-President Farouk al-Shara; angry protesters attacked the US embassy in the Syrian capital after a weekend of rising tensions between Washington and Damascus, an embassy source told AFP.

Syrian government supporters smashed windows at the U.S. Embassy in Damascus on Monday, raised a Syrian flag and scrawled graffiti calling the American ambassador a "dog" in anger over the envoy`s visit last week to an opposition stronghold, witnesses told AFP.

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"Today there was an attack by a mob on the US embassy," he said, adding that the building sustained some physical damage and that the crowd then moved on to the ambassador's residence.

The American embassy source said "no staff were injured" and were never in "imminent danger," although the "Syrian government was slow to respond with extra security measures that were needed."

"The Syrian government has assured us that it will provide the protection required under the Vienna Convention and we expect it to do so."

He added that a television channel heavily influenced by the authorities had "encouraged this violent demonstration," which followed protests at the embassy on Friday and Saturday calling for the ambassador's resignation.

On Sunday, Ford attacked the Syrian government for allowing pro-government protests while beating up anti-regime demonstrators. The pro-Assad protests in Syria are known as "mnhebak," or "we love you."

"I have not seen the police assault a "mnhebak" demonstration yet," Ford wrote on the embassy's Facebook page. "On July 9, a "mnhebak" group threw rocks at our embassy, causing some damage. They resorted to violence, unlike the people in Hama, who have stayed peaceful."

"And how ironic that the Syrian Government lets an anti-U.S. demonstration proceed freely while their security thugs beat down olive branch-carrying peaceful protesters elsewhere," he said. "I saw no signs of armed gangs anywhere not at any of the civilian street barricades we passed," Ford added.

A senior US official on Sunday too had accused Damascus of orchestrating the protests over Ford's trip to Hama, which the Syrian authorities had slammed as a "flagrant interference" in the Arab country's "domestic affairs."

AP also reported on Monday that Syrian government supporters smashed windows at the U.S. Embassy in Damascus on Monday, raised a Syrian flag and scrawled graffiti calling the American ambassador a "dog" in anger over the envoy's visit last week to an opposition stronghold, witnesses said.

AP added that French Embassy security guards in the capital fired in the air to hold back supporters of Syria's regime who were also protesting the French ambassador's visit to the same city, Hama, in central Syria. Protesters smashed embassy windows and shattered the windshield of a diplomatic SUV outside the compound. The French flag was removed and replaced with a Syrian one.

Ford and his French counterpart Eric Chevallier visited Hama on Thursday amid fears of a bloody crackdown after Friday prayers the next day by Assad's forces, with tanks encircling the city.

Also on Monday, News agencies reported from Damascus that French Embassy security guards in the capital fired in the air to hold back supporters of Syria's regime who were also protesting the French ambassador's visit to the same city, Hama, in central Syria. Protesters smashed embassy windows and shattered the windshield of a diplomatic SUV outside the compound. The French flag was removed and replaced with a Syrian one.

Day Press reporter at site said that hundreds were gathering there next to American Embassy building in Damascus chanting anti-America slogans and hails Syria`s leadership. He added that clashes took place and Embassy’s guards shot on air to tear demonstrator who replaced both flags at the two Embassies, American and French, with Syrian flags.

An eyewitness confirmed AP that "God, Syria and Bashar. The nation that gave birth to Bashar Assad will not kneel," read graffiti were written outside the embassy.
No official comment yet have been published from any official source inside Syria regarding above mentioned incidents and statements.

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