Syrian activists rip flag from Jordan embassy

Demonstrators protest Abdullah's call for Assad to go; at least 120 protesters amass at Jordanian mission in Damascus.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
pro-Assad demonstration, Syria_311 (photo credit: Reuters )
pro-Assad demonstration, Syria_311
(photo credit: Reuters )
At least 120 protesters stormed the Jordanian Embassy in Damascus on Tuesday, with two activists tearing down the Jordanian flag, Jordanian daily Al Rai reported according to Jordanian Foreign Affairs Minisrty official Mohamed al-Kayed.
Syrian activists supportive of Syrian President Bashar Assad assembled outside the Jordanian embassy in Syria a day after Jordanian King Abdullah II called on Assad to step down  over the months-long civil uprising that has resulted in the deaths of more than 3,500 people, according to Human Rights Watch.
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Kayed said protesters chanted slogans hostile to the Hashemite Kingdom, and two activists broke off from the group, climbed the embassy building, and tore the flag from its pole.
The official denied media reports that the flag was replaced with the Hezbollah, Lebanese, or Syrian emblem.
Kayed also noted that Syrian security forces did little to prevent the attack, according to Al Rai. He also said that protesters did not cause damage to the building and urged Syria to to take "responsibility in order to protect embassies and diplomatic missions."
The UN Security Council summarily condemned attacks on foreign embassies in Syria by pro-government demonstrators and called on Damascus to protect diplomatic premises and staff.
"The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the attacks against several embassies and consular premises in Syria," said a statement issued by the 15-nation body.
The council members "reiterated their call on the Syrian authorities to protect diplomatic and consular property and personnel and fully respect their international obligations in this regard," it added.
This was the fourth such attack on a foreign mission in Syria since the Arab League's decision to suspend the country over the eight-month brutal crackdown on anti-government protests.
At least 69 people were killed on Wednesday in southern Syria in continuing violence between Syrian security forces and anti-government activists.
Reuters contributed to this report.