U.S. orders closure of Syrian embassy, consulates

The United States on Tuesday ordered the Syrian embassy in Washington and its consulates in Texas and Michigan to suspend operations and told diplomats and staff who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents to leave the country.
“We have determined it is unacceptable for individuals appointed by that regime to conduct diplomatic or consular operations in the United States,” U.S. special envoy for Syria Daniel Rubinstein said in a statement, according to Reuters.
It comes three years since the start of the bloody civil war in Syria that has killed more than 140,000 people.

U.S. special envoy to Syria Daniel Rubenstein said the order responds to a decision by the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad to suspend its own consular services, according to AP.
However, Rubenstein said the U.S. wants to continue diplomatic relations with Syria and maintain a relationship if Assad steps down from power.
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/03/18/U-S-closes-Syrian-embassy-consulates.html
18/3/14
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