US expels top Syrian official
2012-05-29 16:38
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Syria
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Washington - The US state department is expelling Syria's charge d'affaires in Washington following a wave of deadly attacks on civilians in Syria over the weekend, a US official said.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Syrian diplomat would be given 72 hours to depart the country.
Syria's longtime ambassador to Washington, Imad Moustapha, was recalled to Damascus late last year and a formal replacement had not been named.
Earlier, Australia, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain announced the expulsion of the Syrian ambassador or a senior diplomat.
Canada said it was expelling the three remaining Syrian diplomats in Ottawa and the Netherlands also declared Syria's ambassador persona non-grata.
Gulf states have already withdrawn their ambassadors from Damascus and expelled Syrian envoys.
