An undated handout photograph shows the Syrian revolutionary flag (R) floating instead of the national flag (h) over the Criminal Security Branch in the city allegedly after it was freed by the Free Syrian Army in Bayada, Homs, Syria. Photo by EPA/BGNES
France will close its embassy in Syria to condemn the "scandalous" repression by President Bashar al-Assad's regime, President Nicolas Sarkozy announced on Friday.
"Alain Juppe and I have decided to close our embassy in Syria," Sarkozy told a news conference at the end of the EU summit, referring to French foreign minister.
"What is going on is scandalous, there are more than 8,000 dead, hundreds of children, and the city of Homs faces the risk of being wiped off the map. This is absolutely unacceptable," Sarkozy said.
He described as "particularly unacceptable" the Syrian government's reaction to attempts to evacuate two injured French reporters, Edith Bouvier and William Daniels.
EU has recognized the Syrian National Council as a legitimate representative of Syrians.
"I am in favour of organising, at least on Syria's borders, humanitarian zones enabling people persecuted by the Syrian regime to leave," he added.