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BEIRUT --President Bashar Assad's loyalists broke into the U.S. Embassy compound Monday in the Syrian capital Damascus, Reuters reports.
Loyalists also reportedly tried to break into the French embassy. The attacks came as regime supporters protested outside both embassies for a third day.
The U.S. and French ambassadors angered the Syrian regime last week when they visited the flashpoint city of Hama, which has seen some of the biggest protests against Assad's rule.
A witness in Syria's capital says security guards at the French Embassy have fired into the air to drive back protesters taking part in two-pronged demonstrations outside the French and American embassies in Damascus.
The protests Monday come days after the U.S. and French ambassadors visited the opposition stronghold of Hama in central Syria. The witness says crowds were not allowed to get near the U.S. Embassy.
The witness, Hiam al-Hassan, says about 300 people had gathered outside the French Embassy. Hundreds others were at the American diplomatic compound.
Over the weekend, the crowd threw projectiles at the U.S.'s compound and at one point pelted two Embassy employees with food, the State Department said Sunday.
"Protesters eventually threw tomatoes, eggs, and later glass and rocks at the Embassy. Two Embassy employees were struck by food," the official said in a statement.
The U.S. has since complained to the Syrian government.
The official said Ford "registered U.S. displeasure with these events" at a previously scheduled meeting Sunday with Syria's foreign minister.
Syria's minister likewise filed a complaint with Ford over his visit to Hama. However, Ford urged Damascus not to exploit his visit for political gain.
"Ambassador Ford made clear that Syrian government incitement of Syrians against the United States, including through aggressive protesters in front of the Embassy, must stop, and the Syrian government must not use his visit to Hama -- meant only to gather information and support freedom of expression -- as propaganda," the official said.
The protests coincide with government-organized talks in Damascus on possible political reforms after four months of unrest against the regime of President Assad.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/07...#ixzz1Ro26f57s
My question is: why can't we shoot them?
Loyalists also reportedly tried to break into the French embassy. The attacks came as regime supporters protested outside both embassies for a third day.
The U.S. and French ambassadors angered the Syrian regime last week when they visited the flashpoint city of Hama, which has seen some of the biggest protests against Assad's rule.
A witness in Syria's capital says security guards at the French Embassy have fired into the air to drive back protesters taking part in two-pronged demonstrations outside the French and American embassies in Damascus.
The protests Monday come days after the U.S. and French ambassadors visited the opposition stronghold of Hama in central Syria. The witness says crowds were not allowed to get near the U.S. Embassy.
The witness, Hiam al-Hassan, says about 300 people had gathered outside the French Embassy. Hundreds others were at the American diplomatic compound.
Over the weekend, the crowd threw projectiles at the U.S.'s compound and at one point pelted two Embassy employees with food, the State Department said Sunday.
"Protesters eventually threw tomatoes, eggs, and later glass and rocks at the Embassy. Two Embassy employees were struck by food," the official said in a statement.
The U.S. has since complained to the Syrian government.
The official said Ford "registered U.S. displeasure with these events" at a previously scheduled meeting Sunday with Syria's foreign minister.
Syria's minister likewise filed a complaint with Ford over his visit to Hama. However, Ford urged Damascus not to exploit his visit for political gain.
"Ambassador Ford made clear that Syrian government incitement of Syrians against the United States, including through aggressive protesters in front of the Embassy, must stop, and the Syrian government must not use his visit to Hama -- meant only to gather information and support freedom of expression -- as propaganda," the official said.
The protests coincide with government-organized talks in Damascus on possible political reforms after four months of unrest against the regime of President Assad.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/07...#ixzz1Ro26f57s
My question is: why can't we shoot them?
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