Posted on 03/29/2012 3:13:56 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Belgium has closed its embassy in Damascus because of deteriorating security in the Syrian capital and in protest at the government's use of violence against civilians, the foreign ministry said on Thursday.
Belgium is immediately recalling its ambassador to Brussels together with two other staff members, the ministry said. It will retain one diplomat in the country, based in the European Union's offices.
Countries including France, Italy, Japan, Britain and the United States have already closed their embassies in Syria. Turkey, Syria's one-time ally, shut its mission there on Monday.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
(Reporting By Robert-Jan Bartunek; Editing by Ben Harding)
That’ll show ‘em. No waffle deliciousness for you, Syria.
No more chocolates, either.
Sharp differences emerge as Iran, Turkey discuss crisis in Syria
Associated Press
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/sharp-differences-emerge-as-iran-turkey-discuss-crisis-in-syria/2012/03/29/gIQA9eFSjS_story.html
Iran will defend Syria’s regime: supreme leader
Thursday, 29 March 2012 23:17
http://www.iranwpd.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=3305:iran-will-defend-syrias-regime-supreme-leader&Itemid=65
March 29 - Iran will defend the regime of its regional ally Syria due to its anti-Israeli stance, supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told the visiting Turkish prime minister on Thursday.
“Iran will defend Syria because of its support for the anti-Zionist regime resistance,” Khamenei said as he received Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the northeastern holy city of Mashhad, state television reported.
The supreme leader of the Islamic republic also reiterated Tehran’s staunch rejection of foreign intervention in Syria, where he said reforms should be implemented.
“We are strongly opposed to any interference by foreign forces in the internal affairs of Syria... the reforms which have begun there should continue,” Khamenei said.
Erdogan, for his part, was quoted as telling Khamenei that the region is facing “a very difficult situation which Turkey hopes to be resolved.”
But Khamenei warned against any US-led initiative to resolve the conflict in Syria saying Iran would “strongly oppose” such a plan.
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