Attack on Turkish embassy in Damascus

ANKARA (A.A) - November 13, 2011 - Hundreds of Syrian government supporters attacked the Turkish Embassy in Damascus on Saturday after the Arab League voted to suspend Syria from its meetings and impose sanctions against the Syrian regime over its failure to end crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, embassy officials said. Pro-government demonstrators gathered outside the embassy in the evening as their numbers quickly reached to a thousand during the one-and-a-half-hour demonstration. They chanted anti-Turkey slogans, hurled rocks and tried to force their way in through the main gate of the embassy compound. Turkey's Chief Consulate in Aleppo and the country's honorary consulate in Latakia were also attacked in simultaneous demonstrations. Protestors managed to get into garden of the consulate and they tried to hoist down the Turkish flag as they threw rocks and smashed windows of the honorary consulate in Latakia. No embassy or consulate staff were hurt in the violent protests-Turkey-Syria Turkey condemns attacks Syrian charge d'affaires in Ankara was summoned later on Sunday, and was given a diplomatic note over the attacks. "We call on the Syrian government to immediately identify those who are responsible for the attacks and initiate legal proceedings. Turkey expects assurances from the Syrian government to increase security measures to ensure that such incidents do not occur again. Turkey is determined to monitor developments on this issue and it is ready to take any measure it deems necessary," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The ministry said the Syrian charge d'affaires was summoned and "these points were conveyed with strong language and a diplomatic note was handed over." Turkey welcomes Arab League's decision on Syria In a separate statement today the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Turkey had welcomed the Arab League's decision on Syria to suspend the country from league's meetings and impose sanctions against the Syrian regime over its failure to end crackdown on pro-democracy protesters. "This is a timely and a prudent decision that showcases the severity of the situation in Syria. No regime can win the battle it wages against its own people," the ministry said in a statement. Turkey moves to evacuate families of its diplomats in Syria Turkey has decided to evacuate families of the Turkish diplomatic staff in Syria after Saturday's attacks, citing "worsening security situation" in the country. A Turkish Airlines plane took off earlier Sunday to bring back the families of the Turkish diplomats as well as non-essential staff. "The Turkish ambassador in Damascus and other diplomatic personnel will continue to remain on duty," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.