A member of the European Union's delegation to Syia has been killed in Darayya, South-West of Damascus on Wednesday. Ahmad Shihadeh, an EU policy officer was killed in a rocket attack.
The EU withdrew international staff in December last year, closing its Damascus office. However, local Syrian staff remained.
In a statement, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said:
"I have learned today with great sadness of the tragic death on 12 March of Ahmad Shihadeh, a policy officer at the EU Delegation in Syria. He was killed during a rocket attack on the Damascus suburb of Deraya, where he lived.
I offer my sincere condolences to his family and friends, and to the colleagues of the Delegation. Ahmad died while providing humanitarian help to the community of Deraya. Ahmad was known for his courage and selflessness.
As we approach the second anniversary of the uprising in Syria, I call again on all sides to take urgent steps to end the violence, which has led to the deaths of some 100,000 innocent citizens and over one million refugees seeking shelter in neighbouring countries."
