US embassy warns its citizens in Syria

Source: Agencies  |   2008-10-30  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

THE United States Embassy in Syria yesterday warned Americans in the country to remain alert and said it could close to the public after the deadly US raid near the country's border with Iraq over the weekend.

Syria's deputy foreign minister also yesterday demanded an apology from America and Iraq for the raid and asked for a promise not to repeat it.

The attack, in which US troops landing in helicopters raided a compound and killed eight people, drew an angry response from Syria, which on Tuesday ordered an American school and cultural center in the capital to close. But both stayed open yesterday.

The warning on the US Embassy's Website advised Americans to avoid demonstrations and review their personal security and said events could cause it to close to the public.

"The American community in Syria should be aware that unforeseen events or circumstances may occur that could cause the US Embassy in Damascus to close to the public for an unspecified period of time," said the message, which was dated Monday but was not widely available until yesterday.

Meanwhile, students and teachers attended classes as usual at the Damascus Community School in the capital's upscale Maliki neighborhood despite the government's closure order. An employee at the American cultural center, which is linked to the embassy, said it was also open.

"We have not received official notification from the Syrian government (about the closure order) and it would be premature to speculate about the embassy's reaction," an embassy information official said.

Syria's Cabinet ordered the school and cultural center closed during a meeting on Tuesday. The Damascus Community School, better known in Syria as the "American School," caters to the small American community but most of its students are Syrian.

The cultural center is about 50 meters from the embassy and has a media and press section, and a library.