Further escalation between Damascus and Washington, London

The US embassy in Damascus has officially decided to indefinitely suspend granting tourism visas in an adverse impact on the bilateral relations between Washington and Damascus for the demonstrations which targeted the headquarters of the US embassy and other affiliated centers in Damascus in objection to the US bombardment of Iraq.

This new American step came following the strong US criticism of Damascus over what it called the "failure" of Syrian security forces in controlling demonstrators who attacked the embassy headquarters and caused damage to the consular section of the embassy and to the residence of US ambassador Ryan Crocker and the American school.

A statement released by the embassy explained that the embassy's activity "has been relatively restored," but the consulate section which was damaged "has suspended for an indefinite time the granting of visas."

Meanwhile, a correspondent from the Lebanese daily al-Nahar in Damascus said that the strong security measures by the Syrian security forces continued on Tuesday around the British and US embassies in Damascus as well as the houses of the two countries' ambassadors. It was rumored that most of the US diplomats moved temporarily to a building in al-Mezza district until Syrian security forces were able to control youths who attacked the US facilities in a Saturday demonstration in protest of the British and US air raids against Iraq.

On Tuesday night, diplomatic sources in Damascus said that a statement circulated among embassies accredited in Damascus said the British ambassador to Syria, Basil Eastwood, left Damascus for London.