By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Saudi Arabia has shut down its embassy in Syria and withdrawn its staff and diplomats, al-Arabiya reported citing a statement by Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry.
According to the statement, made public by the Saudi Press Agency Wednesday, the decision had been made “due to the developments in Syria”.
A number of Arab and Western countries, including the US and Britain, have already closed their diplomatic missions in Syria as increasingly ferocious attacks by the government forces continue across the country.
According to UN estimates, over 7,500 people have lost their lives in Syria since the outbreak of an uprising against Assad regime a year ago.
The bloodshed has provoked an international outcry, with human rights groups blaming the Syrian government for its crackdown on civilian protesters.
The Assad regime, however, insists it is fighting “armed gangs” and “terrorists” affiliated with Al-Qaeda.