France Shuts Down Embassy in Syria

World | March 2, 2012, Friday // 16:30
Bulgaria: France Shuts Down Embassy in Syria 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.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!

World » Be a reporter: Write and send your article
Tags: Syria, France

Advertisement
Advertisement
Bulgaria news Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) is unique with being a real time news provider in English that informs its readers about the latest Bulgarian news. The editorial staff also publishes a daily online newspaper "Sofia Morning News." Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) and Sofia Morning News publish the latest economic, political and cultural news that take place in Bulgaria. Foreign media analysis on Bulgaria and World News in Brief are also part of the web site and the online newspaper. News Bulgaria