UK lashes out at Syria for intimidating British citizens
Syria's ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Office today amid growing concerns that embassy staff are intimidating Syrians living in Britain suspected of opposing the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad.
The ambassador, Dr Sami Khiami, was told by the Foreign Office that intimidation and harassment would not be tolerated by the British government.
"I am deeply concerned by continued reports suggesting harassment and intimidation by Syrian diplomats in the UK. In summoning the Syrian ambassador today the UK made very clear that any such behaviour will not be tolerated and must immediately stop," Alistair Burt, minister for the Middle East and North Africa, said in a statement.
"We will take appropriate action on evidence that such action is happening and continue to encourage anyone who has experienced harassment or intimidation to report this to the police. They continue to investigate allegations and we are working with them closely.”
The warning from the Foreign Office comes as police investigate allegations that embassy officials took photographs of anti-regime protestors in London and passed the photographs to their families still living in Syria as a means of intimidation.
The allegations were given weight earlier this month when Amnesty International claimed Syrian diplomats in capitals across the west were targeting expatriate citizens involved in protests against Assad's repressive regime.
Foreign secretary William Hague today repeated his calls for the president to stand down, after the killing of thousands of the regime opponents during the last six months.
