Norway, Denmark advise citizens to leave Syria
Syria-Denmark, Politics, 2/6/2006

The governments of Norway and Denmark on Saturday advised their citizens to leave Syria immediately. The warning comes after a day in which Norwegian and Danish representative offices in Damascus were attacked by mobs of Syrians as part of a number of strikes and threatened attacks against Scandinavian and other European targets in the Muslim world.

This followed the publication and reprinting of cartoons depicting the Muslim prophet Muhammad in blasphemous situations in several newspapers around Europe.

Police in Syria had used tear gas to disperse a crowd responsible for setting fire to the Danish and Norwegian embassies, in protest at cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad.

The two countries have urged their nationals to leave Syria immediately after angry Muslims attacked the embassies in the capital, Damascus.

The buildings were damaged, but no one was injured.

The cartoons, including one of the Prophet wearing a turban resembling a bomb, have been published in a number of European newspapers, but first appeared in Denmark.

An official source at the Syrian Foreign Ministry stated Sunday the following:

"The Foreign Ministry expresses regret over the violent acts which accompanied the protests and caused material damages at some embassies,"

"Despite the big understanding of feelings of the popular anger over publication of caricatures that insulted the Prophet Mohammad, it is unacceptable to contradict law and order in the country, the source indicated. Syria is committed to the international conventions regarding the protection of foreign embassies and their staffs," the source said.

"More protection has been placed on diplomatic missions. The source added, denying existence of any threat targeting some states citizens in Syria as baseless.

Previous Stories:
  Protesters in Syria decry Mohammed cartoons, threaten retaliation   (2/4/2006)
  Islamic organization calls Muslims to react in civil way against prophet blasphemy   (2/3/2006)
  Jordanian paper republishes drawings blasphemy for the prophet   (2/3/2006)
  Newspapers challenge Muslims over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed   (2/2/2006)
  Syria recalls ambassador in Copenhagen over insulting cartoons   (2/2/2006)
  Danish paper apologizes to Muslims over insulting them, companies sales come to a halt   (1/31/2006)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search