France, Saudi Arabia condemn attacks on Syrian embassies

France on Sunday condemned protesters' attacks on its diplomatic missions in Syria and has summoned the Syrian ambassador, the foreign ministry said. Saudi Arabia also slammed Saturday’s attack on its embassy. 

Reuters/Sana/Handout

On Saturday evening crowds broke into the Saudi embassy in Damascus, smashing windows and trashing property. Others protested outside other foreign missions in Damascus, Aleppo and Latakia, notably those of current Arab League president Qatar and Turkey.

The protests came after the Arab League suspended Syria over repression of demonstrations against Bashar al Assad’s regime.

"The Saudi government strongly condemns this incident and holds the Syrian authorities responsible for the security and protection of all Saudi interests in Syria," SPA news agency quoted an unnamed official as saying.

France on Sunday revealed that crowds had also demonstrated at its diplomatic missions in Damascus, Aleppo and Latakia, breaking windows and taking flags.

"These attacks are an attempt to intimidate the international community after the Arab League's courageous decision because of ongoing repression in Syria," a French foreign ministry statement said Sunday.

France has taken the lead at the UN Security Council in recent months to try to obtain strong condemnation of the oppression in Syria.

The foreign ministry 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."

Syria's ambassador to France, Lamia Shakkour, has been summoned to the foreign ministry “for a reminder of Syria's international obligations”, the statement said.

Thousands demonstrated in support of President Bashar al Assad on Sunday, as Syria demanded an emergency Arab League meeting to review the suspension.

Only Yemen, Lebanon and Syria voted against Syria's suspension from the Arab League. 

Iraq abstained and government  representative Ali al-Dabbagh declared Sunday that it had been carried out in an "unacceptable way".

Former Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri called his country's opposition "shameful". His father Rafiq was assassinated in 2005 and many of his supporters accuse Syria of involvement in the killing - a charge Damascus denies.