Britain closes embassy in Damascus

BEIRUT (AP) — The UK is closing its embassy in Syria and withdrawing all diplomatic staff amid a worsening security situation in the country, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Thursday.

Hague added that according to his judgment, “the deterioration of the security situation in Damascus puts our embassy staff and premises at risk.”

Britain had previously reduced the number of staff at the premises, meaning less than 10 people were working there prior to Hague’s announcement.

Hague insisted the move would not reduce “the UK’s commitment to active diplomacy to maintain pressure on the Assad regime to end the violence.”

Meanwhile on Thursday, Syria’s main opposition group said it formed a “military bureau” to organize and unify the armed resistance to the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

The Syrian National Council has called for weapons for rebels in the past, but Thursday’s announcement was the first time the country’s main opposition group said it was seeking to organize the fighters.

The group says the government’s crackdown on the country’s uprising has forced Syrians “to bear arms in self-defense.”

At the start of the Syrian revolt nearly a year ago, many protesters said they wanted to remain peaceful. But as the assault continued, an armed insurgency comprised largely of defectors from the military has developed to fight the regime.