The UN security council today strongly condemned attacks on foreign embassies in Syria by pro-government demonstrators and called on Damascus to protect diplomatic premises and staff.
Crowds attacked the Turkish and Saudi Arabian embassies in Damascus on Saturday night, as well as France's honorary consulate in Latakia and diplomatic offices in Aleppo.
Syrian foreign minister Walid Moualem apologised yesterday for the attacks, which came after the Arab League announced it was suspending Damascus for its crackdown on eight months of protests against president Bashar al-Assad.
"The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the attacks against several embassies and consular premises in Syria," said a statement issued by the 15-nation body.
The council members "reiterated their call on the Syrian authorities to protect diplomatic and consular property and personnel and fully respect their international obligations in this regard," it added.
The council issued a similar statement in July after demonstrators attacked the US and French embassies in Damascus.
But Russia and China last month blocked a Western-backed resolution that would have condemned Syria for its crackdown on protesters and warned of possible sanctions. The United Nations says more than 3,500 people have died in the crackdown.
Russia today called on opponents of Dr Assad to hold talks with the government to try to end violence in Syria.
At a meeting in Moscow with an opposition delegation led by Syrian national council head Burhan Ghalioun, Russian diplomats urged "all Syrian opposition groups that reject violence as a means to achieve political ends to immediately join in the realisation of the Arab League initiative to resolve the crisis in Syria through the launch of dialogue between the Syrian authorities and the opposition," the Russian foreign ministry said.
Turkish prime minister Tayyip Erdogan today warned Dr Assad his government was on a "knife-edge" and demanded an immediate apology after attacks on Turkey's diplomatic missions in Syria.
"Nobody now expects the [Syrian] people's demands to be met. We all want the Syrian administration, which is now on a knife-edge, to turn back from the edge of the cliff," Mr Erdogan told a party meeting.
Non-Arab Turkey, after long courting Dr Assad, has lost patience with its neighbour's failure to end an eight-month crackdown and implement promised democratic reforms.
Turkey now hosts the main Syrian opposition and has given refuge to defecting Syrian soldiers. Mr Erdogan today praised an Arab League decision to suspend Syria.
At least 69 people were killed in southern Syria yesterday, most of them in clashes between army deserters and troops loyal to Dr Assad, activists said today.
Reuters