Syria accuses U.S. of interfering in ongoing unrest

[News_Editor]

Syria accuses U.S. of interfering in ongoing unrest

2011-07-08 22:06:45 GMT+7 (ICT)

DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BNO NEWS) -- The Syrian Foreign Ministry on Friday accused the United States of interfering with the ongoing unrest due to the unauthorized presence of an American diplomat in the troubled city of Hama.

According to the state-run SANA news agency, U.S. ambassador in Damascus Robert Ford visited Hama without obtaining permission from the Foreign Ministry as stipulated by instructions distributed to all consulates in Syria.

"The presence of the U.S. ambassador in Hama city without obtaining a prior permission is clear evidence of the U.S. involvement in the ongoing events in Syria and its bids to aggravate the situations which destabilize the country," said a statement from the Foreign Ministry.

The accusations against the U.S. diplomat escalated after acts of riot and violence were perpetrated by groups in Hama. The Syrian government alleged that Ambassador Ford met with some of he saboteurs and incited them to more violence and protests.

The U.S. State Department said that Ford arrived to Hama for visiting hospitals and condemned the repression and harassment of peaceful demonstrators and opposition members by Syrian security forces.

"There is no justification, no excuse for the Syrian security forces to begin yet another crackdown, killing protesters and arresting people suspected of political opposition. We urge the government of Syria to immediately halt its intimidation and arrest campaign, pull its security forces back from Hama and other cities, and allow the Syrian people to express their opinions freely so that a genuine transition to democracy can take place," said Victoria Nuland, spokesperson for the State Department.

On Thursday, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for an end to the crackdown on protesters and to allow access for the UN to assess the humanitarian situation in Syria.

The call came one day after Human Rights Watch reported that at least 16 people were killed this week in the central city of Hama. Syrian security forces responded to a large peaceful protest on July 1 with a series of deadly raids. Security forces and pro-government armed groups known as "shabiha" raided homes, opened fire, and set up checkpoints encircling Hama.

In mid-March, pro-democracy demonstrations began in Syria and have continued across the country, which has been ruled by the Baath Party since 1963. Protesters are demanding the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad, who took over his father in 2000.

Assad previously said that the recent events in the country are a conspiracy against national unity. The Syrian government has repeatedly claimed that the violent acts have been instigated by terrorists who use military uniforms and weaponry to pose as soldiers while attacking citizens.

However, the European Union, the United Nations and other international agencies have reported the killing of at least 1,600 protesters due to the violent crackdown on demonstrations by security personnel.

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