Riyadh mulling closure of its embassy in Syria due to violence

Saudi Arabia may be forced to shut its embassy in Damascus due to the ruling regime’s unrelenting and violent repression of protesters, al-Watan daily reported on Friday. “After reducing its diplomatic staff to a bare minimum, the kingdom is leaning towards closing its embassy in Syria because of the continued violence practiced by the regime against its citizens,” the report said, citing an “informed source.” Riyadh is “anxious to protect its citizens and diplomatic mission of any risk because Syria has become a danger zone where dozens are killed every day,” the report continued. Saudi Arabia, which has great clout in the Arab world, broke with its tradition of diplomatic discretion to publically condemn the violence practiced by its former ally Syria. Saudi Arabia on Aug. 8 recalled its ambassador to Damascus and last month urged its citizens to leave the country where ruling regime’s repression has claimed more than 5,000 civilian lives, according to U.N. estimates.