France recalls ambassador to Syria

[Bosonic]

Source: AP

PARIS (AP) — France's ambassador to Syria says the government in Paris has ordered him home in the wake of recent attacks against diplomatic missions and a crackdown by Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime.

Ambassador Eric Chevallier said by phone Wednesday he "was aware" that he had been ordered back but declined to provide details. He deferred all questions about the reasons to the Foreign Ministry.

The ministry declined immediate comment.

France, Syria's former colonial ruler, has been increasingly critical of Assad's regime in recent weeks, urging him to step down, pressing for tough international sanctions, and meeting with opposition figures

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Also unconfirmed reports of attacks today on embassies of Morocco, UAE, Qatar (reported on fire)

Assad supporters attack UAE embassy

AMMAN Nov 16 (Reuters) - Supporters of President Bashar al-Assad threw stones and debris on Wednesday at the embassy of the United Arab Emirates and smeared its walls with graffiti, witnesses said, hours after an Arab League decision to suspend Syria took effect.

"You bastards. You agents of Israel," read some of the graffiti, according to two residents who live near the building in the affluent Abu Rummana neighbourhood, one of the most secure districts of the capital near the home and offices of Assad.

http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL5E7MG3XD20111116

[pampango]

1. BBC: Syria: Turkish-Arab call for 'urgent' action

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15762260

Turkey and members of the Arab League have called for "urgent measures" to protect Syrian civilians from a brutal government crackdown.

At a meeting in Morocco, they also declared they were "against all foreign intervention in Syria".

"The forum declares that it is necessary to stop the bloodshed and to spare Syrian citizens from new acts of violence and killing, and demands that urgent measures are taken to ensure the protection of civilians," a statement said. The statement came hours after reports that rebel Syrian troops had attacked a major military base near Damascus.

In another sign of Syria's increasing international isolation, France said it was withdrawing its ambassador.