Paris summons Syrian envoy over embassy attacks

“These attacks are an attempt to intimidate the international community after the Arab Leagues courageous decision because of ongoing repression in Syria,” a ministry statement said after the pan-Arab body suspended Syria.“France condemns with the greatest firmness the unacceptable attacks on its diplomatic and consular interests in Syria,” it said. “It particularly condemns the destruction of the Saudi Arabian embassy in Damascus and expresses its solidarity with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia as it does with all targeted countries,” it said.Angry demonstrators on Saturday sacked the Saudi embassy in Damascus after the Arab League suspended Syria over the regimes failure to honour a deal to end a bloody crackdown on anti-regime protesters.Demonstrators also protested outside the embassy of Qatar, which currently holds the Arab Leagues rotating presidency, and attacked other diplomatic missions in Damascus and in the northern cities of Latakia and Aleppo, notably Turkeys.“Attempted attacks on Frances honorary consulate in Latakia and the detached chancery in Aleppo by organised groups of demonstrators to which security forces did not react are unacceptable,” the foreign ministry said.Syria’s ambassador to France is summoned to the foreign ministry for a reminder of Syria’s international obligations.Arab Leagues foreign ministers voted Saturday to suspend Syria over its failure to comply with an agreement to end the crackdown, which the United Nations says has cost more than 3,500 lives.