Belgium has decided to close its embassy in Damascus and downgrade diplomatic relations to the level of charge d\'affaire in protest against the regime’s violent repression of the opposition. Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said only one representative will remain in Syria, working in the office of the European Union delegation, after the embassy closes on Saturday. A number of other EU nations, including Britain, France, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands, have already closed their embassies in Syria. The US, Turkey, Japan and Gulf states have withdrawn their diplomats too.