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US Syrian embassy 'may be shut' US Syria embassy closes for day
(about 10 hours later)
The US embassy in Damascus has warned it may close to the public in the wake of a US raid on Sunday that Syria says killed eight people. The US embassy in Damascus has said it will close on Thursday due to increased security concerns in the wake of a raid that Syria says killed eight people.
The embassy said it could be closed for an "unspecified period" due to "unforeseen circumstances or events". Reports from Syria say a demonstration is planned to take place in protest against Sunday's raid.
Syria has protested to the UN about the attack, which unnamed US officials have said killed a top al-Qaeda figure. The US State Department and the White House have refused to confirm, deny or comment on the incident.
Meanwhile a US school and cultural centre were continuing to operate a day after Damascus ordered them to shut. Unnamed US officials said the target of the attack was the leader of a network smuggling foreign fighters into Iraq.
The two institutions said they had not been officially notified of the closures. Iraq has said it will share the results of its own investigation into the raid near Abu Kamal, some 8km (five miles) north of Iraq's border with Syria.
Damascus denies it allows any traffic of foreign fighters across the border and has demanded an apology from the US.
Victims' angerVictims' anger
Five of those killed in the raid were from the same family, and the BBC's Paul Wood has spoken to the woman who lost her husband and four sons at the scene of the reported raid. "The US Embassy will be closed on 30 October due to past demonstrations which resulted in violence and significant damage to US facilities and other embassies," the embassy said on its website.
It also said a US school would close temporarily, and warned US citizens to be vigilant.
Fury sweeps Syria over raidProfile: Abu Ghadiya Syria fears damage to Europe tiesFury sweeps Syria over raidProfile: Abu Ghadiya Syria fears damage to Europe ties
She was being treated in a Syrian hospital for injuries she said she received during the raid. The school and a cultural centre linked to the embassy have continued to operate despite an order by Damascus for them to shut.
Five of those killed in the raid were from the same family, and the BBC's Paul Wood has spoken to the woman who lost her husband and four sons at the scene of the reported raid.
She was being treated in a Syrian hospital for injuries she said she received during the attack.
"I went outside to get my son and the Americans shot me," she said. "I was screaming in terror.""I went outside to get my son and the Americans shot me," she said. "I was screaming in terror."
She said all the men were working on the house that was in the compound where the Americans landed, and denied any link between them and al-Qaeda.She said all the men were working on the house that was in the compound where the Americans landed, and denied any link between them and al-Qaeda.
Our correspondent says although there were Syrian officials present and those interviewed were most likely following the official line, their underlying anger seemed genuine.Our correspondent says although there were Syrian officials present and those interviewed were most likely following the official line, their underlying anger seemed genuine.
The White House has neither confirmed nor denied Sunday's strike near Abu Kamal, some 8km (five miles) north of Iraq's border with Syria.
'Totally unjustified''Totally unjustified'
But unnamed US officials have said it killed Iraqi Abu Ghadiyah, a former lieutenant of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al-Qaeda in Iraq leader who was killed in 2006. But unnamed US officials have said it killed Iraqi Abu Ghadiya, a former lieutenant of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al-Qaeda in Iraq leader who was killed in 2006.
HAVE YOUR SAYYour military is pack of wild dogs. Shame on those who support themMohammad Tariq AbideenNew DelhiSend us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYYour military is pack of wild dogs. Shame on those who support themMohammad Tariq AbideenNew DelhiSend us your comments
The US blamed him for bringing thousands of fighters across the border.The US blamed him for bringing thousands of fighters across the border.
Syrian foreign minister Walid Muallem denied the US claims calling them "totally unjustified". Syrian foreign minister Walid Muallem denied the US claims, calling them "totally unjustified".
He branded the attack a "war crime attempt" and said it had claimed the lives of civilians.He branded the attack a "war crime attempt" and said it had claimed the lives of civilians.
Iraq has also condemned the unconfirmed helicopter strikes.Iraq has also condemned the unconfirmed helicopter strikes.
"The Iraqi government rejects the US helicopter strike on Syrian territory, considering that Iraq's constitution does not allow its land to be a base for launching attacks on neighbouring countries," government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said on Tuesday."The Iraqi government rejects the US helicopter strike on Syrian territory, considering that Iraq's constitution does not allow its land to be a base for launching attacks on neighbouring countries," government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said on Tuesday.
But he urged Damascus to prevent groups using Syrian territory for "training and sending terrorists for attacks on Iraq and its people".But he urged Damascus to prevent groups using Syrian territory for "training and sending terrorists for attacks on Iraq and its people".
If confirmed, Sunday's strike would be the first US attack in Syria since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.If confirmed, Sunday's strike would be the first US attack in Syria since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.