Tunisia Expels Syrian Ambassador, Withdraws Recognition of Assad’s Government

Current Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

The Tunisian Office of the President declared in a statement released today its initiation of the process to expel the Syrian ambassador to Tunisia and to withdraw recognition of the ruling regime in Damascus.

The statement condemns all crimes committed by the Syrian regime against its people and expressed Tunisia’s solidarity with the Syrian people.

“Tunisia expresses its concern and sadness for the suffering of the Syrian people from the bloody massacres committed by the ruling regime in Damascus, which culminated in a massacre in Homs last night – on the eve of Prophet Mohammad’s birth -resulting in more than two hundred dead and several hundred injured.”

The statement also noted that this tragedy will only end when Bashar Assad’s regime gives up power to clear the way for a democratic transition that ensures security for the brotherly Syrian people.

In the same statement, Tunisia announced the initiation of the process and procedures involved in expelling the Syrian Ambassador of Tunisia and withdrawing any recognition of the ruling regime in Damascus.

Tunisian Foreign Affairs Minister, Rafik Abdelsalaam, confirmed – in an interview with Al Jazeera earlier today – the government’s intention to remove its diplomats from Syria in conjunction with the expulsion of the Syrian ambassador from Tunisia.

This announcement has come amidst efforts from the UN security council to draft a resolution condemning the proliferation of violence in Syria. According to UN reports, over 5,400 Syrians have been killed since the onset of the government crackdown against the popular uprising that began last March.

The Security Council is expected to vote on the resolution – proposed by the Arab League in partnership with the United States and Europe – today.