DAMASCUS: Syria denounced as illegal yesterday Washington’s decision to close its embassy, while Russia said the move meant the United States had renounced its role as a peace sponsor.
But a Russian- and US-agreed deal for Syria to destroy its chemical arsenal made progress with the international watchdog announcing that nearly half of it had now been removed, including the entire stock of mustard gas.
Syria, meanwhile, announced that Israeli air raids on its territory earlier yesterday killed one soldier and wounded seven.
The foreign ministry accused Washington of a “clear violation” of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations with Tuesday’s decision to close Syria’s embassy and two consulates, calling it an “arbitrary measure”.
The decision “reveals the real objectives of US policy against the interests of Syrian citizens and is another step in the US support for terrorism and bloodshed in Syria”, a ministry statement added.
AFP
