U.N. Security Council condemns attack against diplomatic missions in Syria

The United Nations Security Council condemned, in a statement received by Al Arabiya, the attack against a number of diplomatic missions in Syria by government supporters. The statement said that the attack violated the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which commits the host countries to the protection of diplomatic missions and personnel.

The U.N. council’s condemnation falls within the so-called ‘silent procedure’ for the Security Council, which could be turned into an actual condemnation decision unless one of the member countries object within the following 24 hours, according to Al Arabiya.

The EU, meanwhile, strongly condemned the attacks on diplomatic premises in Damascus as well, underlining that the Syrian authorities were under an international obligation to ensure the protection of diplomatic missions and personnel in Syria in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem apologized on Monday for the attacks on foreign diplomatic missions after the Arab League announced it was suspending Damascus for its crackdown on eight months of protests against President Bashar al-Assad.

“As for attacks on foreign embassies, as foreign minister I apologize for these aggressions,” Muallem told a televised news conference in Damascus.

Crowds attacked the Turkish and Saudi Arabian embassies in Damascus on Saturday night, as well as France's honorary consulate in Latakia and diplomatic offices in Aleppo.

Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Damascus sustained broken windows and there was tampering with its contents, the state-run Saudi Press Agency said. Saudi Arabia condemned the attack and said it held the Syrian government responsible for the safety of Saudi interests, SPA reported citing Foreign Ministry officials.

About 1,000 people attacked the Turkish Embassy in Damascus before police intervened, Turkey’s state-run Anatolia news agency said.

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that Turkey will take the most decisive stance against Syria following attacks on its embassy and consulates. “Turkey responded to the assaults through diplomatic channels and will continue to support the Syrian peoples righteous struggle,” Davutoglu said, according to Anatolia.

France also condemned the attacks on embassies and consulates in Syria and summoned the Syrian ambassador to a meeting in Paris, the French Foreign Ministry said.

(Additional writing by Abeer Tayel)