US may close embassy to public

Damascus: The United States may close its embassy in Damascus to the public due to fears of violence, a US spokesman said yesterday, as tension rose between the two countries following a US raid on Syria on Sunday.

A demonstration is planned in Damascus today to protest against the raid which killed eight civilians. Syria also ordered an American school and cultural centre to be shut down.

Ties between Washington and Damascus are already strained by US accusations that Syria is failing to stop militants from entering Iraq.

"The American community in Syria should be aware that unforeseen events or circumstances may occur that could cause the US Embassy in Damascus to close to the public for an unspecified period of time," an embassy spokesman said.