Members of the European Union and several Gulf countries have recalled their ambassadors to Syria.
Germany, France, Spain and Belgium announced the move today along with the Gulf Cooperation Council, whose members are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The Gulf Cooperation Council also expelled Syrian envoys to their member countries from Syrian Embassies.
The EU will keep its head of delegation in Damascus to observe events “on the ground,” bloc spokesman Michael Mann said.
Germany said it was responding to the arrest of two Syrian nationals in Berlin thought to be spying on ro-opposition groups in the country.
“We will signal unambiguously to Syrian officials that any apparent activity against the Syrian opposition in Germany is in no way tolerable and a violation of the law,” German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle told reporters in Berlin today.
Spain said it acted because of “the increase in repression of the civilian population” in Syria, the Foreign Ministry said in an e-mailed statement from Madrid today.
The recalls come a day after the US and the UK recalled its ambassadors diplomatic staff from Damascus.
