The UN Security Council has condemned "in the strongest terms" this week's attacks by demonstrators against the U.S. and French embassies in Damascus.
The protests were over visits by the U.S. and French ambassadors last week to the opposition stronghold of Hama in central Syria.
A statement by the 15-nation body read to the media by Germany's UN Ambassador Peter Wittig -- this month's council president -- called on Syrian authorities to protect diplomatic property and personnel.
Syria's UN ambassador said in reply that Syria did try to protect the embassies and that some of the demonstrators will be brought to justice.
Separately, the White House said the attack on the U.S. Embassy was "not acceptable."
"The attacks, or the thugs storming the embassy, is not acceptable," spokesman Jay Carney said. "And we've made that clear to the Syrian government that it is their responsibility, as it is the responsibility of host nations around the globe, to provide security for and to maintain security for foreign embassies -- in this case, the U.S.
Embassy."
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on July 11 said President Bashir al-Assad had lost legitimacy and is "not indispensable."
compiled from agency reports
The protests were over visits by the U.S. and French ambassadors last week to the opposition stronghold of Hama in central Syria.
A statement by the 15-nation body read to the media by Germany's UN Ambassador Peter Wittig -- this month's council president -- called on Syrian authorities to protect diplomatic property and personnel.
Syria's UN ambassador said in reply that Syria did try to protect the embassies and that some of the demonstrators will be brought to justice.
Separately, the White House said the attack on the U.S. Embassy was "not acceptable."
"The attacks, or the thugs storming the embassy, is not acceptable," spokesman Jay Carney said. "And we've made that clear to the Syrian government that it is their responsibility, as it is the responsibility of host nations around the globe, to provide security for and to maintain security for foreign embassies -- in this case, the U.S.
Embassy."
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on July 11 said President Bashir al-Assad had lost legitimacy and is "not indispensable."
compiled from agency reports
