By KUNA
Washington : The White House condemned on Wednesday the detention of Syrian political activist Riad Seif by the Syrian authorities.
“The United States condemns the arrest on Monday of democracy activist Riad Seif”, said the White House in a statement released by Deputy Secretary Tony Fratto.
“His arrest, which follows repeated refusals by the regime to allow Mr. Seif to travel abroad for medical treatment, is an escalation of a long series of Syrian efforts to deny its citizens the internationally recognized rights of freedom of expression and association”, added the statement.
The White House also referred to the detention of the ten members of the National Council of Damascus Declaration and other political activists.
“The Syrian regime cannot expect to be treated as a respected member of the international community while it engages in such systematic repression of its own citizens”, concluded the statement.