Washington expelling top Syrian diplomat over Houla massacre

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Obama administration is expelling the top Syrian diplomat in Washington in response to Friday’s reported massacre of 108 people, including 49 children, in the village of Houla, The Washington Times reported.

U.S. officials told Syrian Charge d’Affaires Zuheir Jabbour on Tuesday morning that he has 72 hours to leave the country.

The decision to kick out the Syrian envoy was part of an international protest. Seven other Western countries — Canada, Australia, Spain, the United Kingdom, Italy, France and Germany — also said they would expel Syrian diplomatic officials.

Over the weekend, U.N. observers confirmed the deaths in Houla after an assault involving tanks and artillery. There are also reports that many families were summarily executed in their homes.

President Obama is backing a plan by peace envoy Kofi Annan, the former UN. secretary-general, to end the 14-month-old uprising against Syrian President Bashar Assad, but it’s been six weeks since Mr. Assad and the rebels signed the agreement, and the bloodshed has not slowed.