BICOM

Britain on Monday said it would recall its ambassador and the United States closed its embassy in Syria, as diplomatic pressure mounts against Damascus amid reports of continued attacks against civilians by the Syrian authorities.

Foreign Secretary William Hague told parliament yesterday that he had recalled Britain’s ambassador in Syria. Calling the Syrian government “a doomed regime” as well as a murdering regime,” Hague said there was no way it could recover its “credibility internationally or with its own people.”

The Foreign Secretary also welcomed the idea of a new Arab-led group of “Friends of Syria” and said Britain would be “a highly active member in setting up such a group with the broadest possible international support.”

Washington said its entire embassy staff had left the country due to the deteriorating security situation. US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said in a statement that Robert Ford would retain his position as US ambassador to Syria and would work with his team from Washington.

Meanwhile, as violence continues in Syria, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Intelligence Chief Mikhail Fradkov are due in Damascus today to urge President Bashar Assad to end an 11-month uprising by implementing swift reform. Russia, which has strategic interests in Syria, vetoed a UN resolution against Syria at the weekend.