Canada closes embassy in Syria, violent crackdown continues

Canada is stepping up its pressure against the Assad regime in Syria.

The Canadian embassy in Damascus has been shut down and all Canadian diplomats are being pulled out of the country.

The Foreign Affairs minister made the announcement following a bilateral meeting in Ottawa with his counterpart from the United Arab Emirates.

The ongoing violence and civil unrest in Syria has forced the Canadian government to take these steps.

Over the weekend the Harper Conservatives condemned the Assad regime for its blockade against humanitarian aid.

Thousands of people have been killed in the civil unrest that has lasted nearly a year.

Minister John Baird called the actions of the Assad regime appalling and said Canada must tighten the vice on those responsible.

“We’ll continue to work with our allies and work with the international community to bring pressure on the Assad regime and those backing him and give the people of Syria the opportunity to build a better and brighter future for themselves and their family,” said Baird.

The government is not only suspending operations at the embassy but also placing a sixth round of economic sanctions on the country, including restrictions against Syria’s central bank and freezing the assets of seven high-ranking ministers.

Baird has long called for president Bashar al-Assad to stop down.