Thousands of Syrians Protest US Raid

Via VOA News -

The Syrian government appears to have mobilized tens of thousands of people, busing them in to Damascus from far-flung corners of the country. They were demonstrating against an American raid in eastern Syria, which the United States says targeted and killed a top al-Qaida operative. Edward Yeranian reports for VOA from Cairo.

Syrian government television showed images of tens of thousands of demonstrators, waving banners and shouting slogans in support of President Bashar al Assad, in what appeared to be a mostly peaceful, government-sponsored protest of a raid in eastern Syria, widely believed to be conducted by the United States. The United States has not formally acknowledged involvement.

The American Embassy in Damascus was closed, for safety reasons. Hundreds of armed Syrian riot police surrounded the building to keep demonstrators away. The U.S. Cultural Center, as well as the American Community School were also closed for the day.

Syria's official news agency, SANA, quotes Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al Miqdad as saying that Damascus is awaiting official explanation from the United States and Iraqi governments on what he calls an unacceptable violation of Syrian sovereignty.

Unconfirmed reports say that Damascus has asked the United States to close its embassy, the U.S. Cultural Center and the American School by next week.