Robert Ford, US Ambassador to Damascus, was pelted with eggs, tomatoes and stones by a pro-Assad mob, as he left to visit opposition figures in Syria earlier today.
The attack was quick to draw strong condemnation from the United States, with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton saying,
"We condemn this unwarranted attack in the strongest possible term.Ambassador Ford and his aides were conducting normal embassy business and this attempt to intimidate our diplomats through violence is wholly unjustified."
The Syrian government however reacted differently, releasing a statement after the incident accusing the US of "encouraging armed groups to practice violence against the Syrian Arab Army."
Jay Carney, the White House spokesman,
"This is clearly part of a campaign to intimidate diplomats who are bearing witness to brutality of the Assad regime,"
Ford was unharmed but several embassy vehicles were damaged.
The attack occurred as the UN Security Council met behind closed doors to discuss a proposed UN resolution condemning the Syria government’s crackdown on pro-democracy protests.
'Syria looks East as renewed UN proposal submitted' (Sep 2011)
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