9 countries tell Syrian envoys they must leave
May 30, 2012, Wednesday
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Western governments expelled Syrian ambassadors and diplomats yesterday, an unusual, coordinated blow to Syrian President Bashar Assad's government following a gruesome massacre that the United Nations said involved close-range shootings of scores of children and parents.
The United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands all took action against Syrian diplomats. William Hague, Britain's foreign secretary, said the countries involved would also push for tougher sanctions against Syria.
The move came after the killings last Friday in Houla, a collection of villages in Homs - one of the deadliest single events in a 15-month-old uprising against Assad.
A UN report said 49 children and 34 women were among the 108 people who died.
"This is the most effective way we've got of sending a message of revulsion of what has happened in Syria," Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr said.
He called the Houla killings a "hideous and brutal crime" and said Australia would not engage with the Syrian government unless it abides by a UN cease-fire plan.
The US State Department said the charge d'affaires at the Syrian Embassy had been given 72 hours to leave.
Britain is expelling three Syrian diplomats, among them Charge d'Affaires Ghassan Dalla - the country's top ranking diplomat in London.
In Canada, Foreign Minister John Baird said all Syrian diplomats and their families have five days to leave.
In France, Ambassador Lamia Shakkour was notified that she is persona non grata, along with two other embassy officials.
Germany said Syria's ambassador, Radwan Loutfi, had 72 hours to leave. The Italian Foreign Ministry said Ambassador Khaddour Hassan was summoned and informed that he must leave.
Spain said it was giving Syrian Ambassador Hussam Edin Aala and four other diplomats based in Madrid three days to leave the country.
Australia gave Syrian Charge d'Affaires Jawdat Ali, the most senior Syrian diplomat in Australia, and another diplomat from the Syrian Embassy, 72 hours to leave the country.
Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal declared the Syrian ambassador to his country persona non grata.
There was no public Syrian reaction to the coordinated expulsions.
The United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands all took action against Syrian diplomats. William Hague, Britain's foreign secretary, said the countries involved would also push for tougher sanctions against Syria.
The move came after the killings last Friday in Houla, a collection of villages in Homs - one of the deadliest single events in a 15-month-old uprising against Assad.
A UN report said 49 children and 34 women were among the 108 people who died.
"This is the most effective way we've got of sending a message of revulsion of what has happened in Syria," Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr said.
He called the Houla killings a "hideous and brutal crime" and said Australia would not engage with the Syrian government unless it abides by a UN cease-fire plan.
The US State Department said the charge d'affaires at the Syrian Embassy had been given 72 hours to leave.
Britain is expelling three Syrian diplomats, among them Charge d'Affaires Ghassan Dalla - the country's top ranking diplomat in London.
In Canada, Foreign Minister John Baird said all Syrian diplomats and their families have five days to leave.
In France, Ambassador Lamia Shakkour was notified that she is persona non grata, along with two other embassy officials.
Germany said Syria's ambassador, Radwan Loutfi, had 72 hours to leave. The Italian Foreign Ministry said Ambassador Khaddour Hassan was summoned and informed that he must leave.
Spain said it was giving Syrian Ambassador Hussam Edin Aala and four other diplomats based in Madrid three days to leave the country.
Australia gave Syrian Charge d'Affaires Jawdat Ali, the most senior Syrian diplomat in Australia, and another diplomat from the Syrian Embassy, 72 hours to leave the country.
Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal declared the Syrian ambassador to his country persona non grata.
There was no public Syrian reaction to the coordinated expulsions.
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