Naharnet

Hungary Closes Embassy in Damascus

Hungary on Wednesday became the latest country to close its embassy in Syria due to security concerns.

"Due to the situation in Syria, the Hungarian Embassy in Damascus has suspended its activities as of December 5, 2012, and its diplomats have left the country," the foreign ministry said on its website.

Hungarian nationals in need of assistance or requiring visa and administrative services are advised to contact the embassy in neighboring Lebanon, the statement said.

Earlier this week, the European Union said that it would minimize its diplomatic presence in the Syrian capital, while the United Nations also said it was withdrawing all non-essential international staff.

More than 41,000 people have been killed as the Syrian conflict approaches the 21-month mark, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group.

Most Western embassies have suspended diplomatic services in the Syrian capital Damascus and withdrawn their diplomatic staff as the crisis in the country has escalated.

Source: Agence France Presse


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