Pro-Gov’t Protesters Descend Upon U.S., French Embassies in Syria

Posted on Jul 11, 2011

Associated Press

A policeman walks in front of the damaged U.S. Embassy after pro-government protesters attacked and raised a Syrian flag on the compound in Damascus, Syria, on Monday. The Arabic writing on the wall reads: “The people wants [sic] to remove the dog” and “it’s Syria, you dog.”

Syrian protesters siding with Prime Minister Bashar Assad’s regime made their displeasure with the U.S. and France apparent, after those countries showed support for the opposition, by attacking their embassies in Damascus on Monday. The Los Angeles Times reported about the attacks Monday.

Los Angeles Times:

Witnesses said that violent protesters, angered by visits by the U.S. and French ambassadors to the opposition stronghold of Hama on Saturday, breached the walls of both embassy compounds, wrote graffiti, threw rocks and sticks, and raised the Syrian flag inside the American compound.

Protesters smashed windows and vandalized cars belonging to embassy staff, demanding the closure of the two missions. Gunfire dispersed the mobs at the French facility; there were no reports of injuries at either site.

“The French have interfered in our internal affairs,” said a participant at the French Embassy demonstration. “They have to stop interfering ... them and the Americans.”

A woman at the protest said, “A Syrian shoe is worth all of France.”

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