Slovakia Summons Syrian Ambassador Over Houla Massacre

Slovakia said Monday it has summoned the Syrian ambassador over recent violence in Syria, particularly the Houla massacre, which claimed 108 lives including those of 49 children, according to UN figures.

"The ministry is deeply concerned about the continuous violation of human rights in Syria and calls for an early and full implementation of the peace plan of international envoy Kofi Annan," the Slovak foreign ministry said in a statement.

But a ministry spokesman told AFP that severing diplomatic ties between Bratislava and Damascus was not on the cards.

"If we cut diplomatic ties with Syria, we would lose any way to influence the situation," Boris Gandel said.

Annan's plan for ending bloodshed in Syria includes a ceasefire that should have taken effect on April 12 but has been grossly violated on a daily basis.

At Houla 108 people died, including 49 children and 34 women, in an attack blamed by opposition groups and Western powers on forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Last month, several Western nations including the United States, Britain and France expelled Syrian diplomats.

The Syrian ambassador to Slovakia is based in the neighboring Austrian capital Vienna.