Japan closes embassy in Damascus amid violence

[News_Editor]

Japan closes embassy in Damascus amid violence

2012-03-21 18:46:42 GMT+7 (ICT)

TOKYO, Japan (BNO NEWS) -- The Japanese government on Wednesday decided to close its embassy in the Syrian capital of Damascus amid the rapidly deteriorating security conditions in the country, Japan's foreign ministry said.

A brief statement from the Japanese Foreign Ministry said it decided to temporarily close the Syrian embassy because the domestic security situation in the country has further deteriorated. Japan already reduced its operations in Syria earlier this month, suspending its Consular & Visa Section.

Unrest has increasingly spread to Damascus which was the scene of four deadly suicide bombings in recent months. On Saturday morning, at least 27 people were killed and 140 others were injured when two suicide bombers simultaneously attacked government buildings in the capital.

The Syrian government has accused 'armed terrorist groups' such as al-Qaeda of carrying out the attacks, but the opposition has accused the government of staging terrorist attacks to justify its deadly crackdown against the uprising. Since the start of the uprising in March 2011, at least 3,800 people have died as a result of violence, according to government figures, but opposition activists claim the actual number has already surpassed 8,500.

Syrian activists said at least 30 people were killed in violence across the country on Tuesday, and clashes were also reported in Damascus. As a result of the deteriorating security situation in Damascus, countries such as the United States, Canada, France, Britain, Italy, Switzerland and Saudi Arabia had already closed their embassies there.

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