Syria tells US to shut cultural center, school

Mon Oct 27, 2008 10:16 AM EDT

politics, us, united-states, syria, state-department, american-school, american-cultural-center

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The Syrian government has officially asked the United States to close the American Cultural Center in Damascus immediately and the American school in the capital by Nov. 6, the State Department said Wednesday.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry gave formal notice of the deadlines to Maura Connelly, the top U.S. diplomat in Damascus, after the government said Tuesday it would order both institutions closed in retaliation for a weekend American attack on alleged Iraqi militants inside Syrian territory, according to the department.

"The chief of protocol communicated the Syrian government's request that we close the cultural center immediately and that the Damascus Community School be closed on Nov. 6," said deputy State Department spokesman Robert Wood.

"We are looking at how to respond," he said, adding that in the meantime: "we expect the Syrian government to provide adequate security for the buildings in which the American Cultural Center and Damascus Community School are housed."

Earlier Wednesday, Syria hardened its stance against the U.S., threatening to cut off cooperation on Iraqi border security while demanding America apologize and promise not to repeat a deadly cross-border raid into its territory.

A massive protest against Sunday's raid that Syria said killed eight people in the eastern border community of Abu Kamal has been called for Thursday in Damascus.

The U.S. Embassy in Damascus has warned Americans to be vigilant.

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Regions: United States , Syria , Pakistan , Iraq , Afghanistan

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1.7

{"commentId":3716636,"authorDomain":"darkside"}

Mykola Bilokonsky

WTF? We're invading Syria now?

{"commentId":3716636,"threadId":"400367","contentId":"2043698","authorDomain":"darkside"}

#1 - Mon Oct 27, 2008 11:50 AM EDT

{"commentId":3718358,"authorDomain":"mgsalpietro"}

Democrat in CT

Is this a Republican war gimmick right before elections to try and secure votes for McCain?

{"commentId":3718358,"threadId":"400367","contentId":"2043698","authorDomain":"mgsalpietro"}

1 vote

#1.1 - Mon Oct 27, 2008 1:19 PM EDT

{"commentId":3731435,"authorDomain":"ifoundapeanut"}

Talons

What scares me is that GW did this in secret. And Syria has been working to improve it's image in the world. Boy, to we need someone that will be able to sit down with these other countries and talk to them. Obama 08

{"commentId":3731435,"threadId":"400367","contentId":"2043698","authorDomain":"ifoundapeanut"}

2 votes

#2 - Tue Oct 28, 2008 1:04 AM EDT

{"commentId":3732701,"authorDomain":"wallemalemon"}

lovetrust

...special ops.....still killed four children???? WTF indeed...ignorant.....

{"commentId":3732701,"threadId":"400367","contentId":"2043698","authorDomain":"wallemalemon"}

#3 - Tue Oct 28, 2008 6:27 AM EDT

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American school in Syria obeys order to close	Associated Press	Wed Oct 29	1
Syria: Deadly U.S. attack 'serious aggression'	msnbc.com	Sun Oct 26	31
Demonstrations prompt closure of U.S. Embassy in Syria	CNN	Thu Oct 30	7
Syria orders US school, cultural center closed	Associated Press	Sun Oct 26	41
Syria appeals to UN over 'US raid'	AL JAZEERA	Tue Oct 28	4

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Syria tells US to shut cultural center, school

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