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    October 24, 2011

US Withdraws Ambassador to Syria

   VOA News
   U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford enters the local security forces
   headquarters as he joins envoys from some 30 countries invited by
   Syria's foreign ministry to visit the northern Syrian restive town of
   Jisr al-Shughur, June 2011. (file photo)
   Photo: AFP
   U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford enters the local security forces
   headquarters along with envoys from some 30 countries invited by
   Syria's foreign ministry to visit the northern Syrian restive town of
   Jisr al-Shughur, June 2011. (file photo)

   The United States has withdrawn its ambassador to Syria over concerns
   for his personal safety.
   U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Monday the decision to
   return Ambassador Robert Ford to Washington was based solely on
   ensuring his safety after receiving "credible threats."

   U.S. officials say Ambassador Ford left Syria over the past few days,
   and Toner said the U.S. cannot say at this point when the ambassador
   will return to the country.
   Toner added the U.S. hopes the Syrian government will end what he
   called its "incitement campaign" against the ambassador.
   Ford has angered Syrian authorities by speaking out against a
   government crackdown on protesters calling for President Bashar
   al-Assad to step down.
   In July, the government issued an order restricting the movements of
   foreign ambassadors after Ford and the French ambassador to Syria
   visited the flashpoint city of Hama to show solidarity with residents
   there.
   Last month, an angry mob confronted Ford as he prepared to meet a
   leading opposition figure in Damascus.
   The United Nations says Assad's ongoing crackdown on dissent has killed
   more than 3,000 people. The government says terrorist gangs have killed
   hundreds of security personnel in the unrest.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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References

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