A Syrian family walks with their belongings after crossing the Masnaa border post between Syria and Lebanon. (AFP)
New Delhi:
India has asked all its citizens to leave Syria in view of escalating violence in the West Asian country.
In a statement today, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the government is in touch with its mission in Damascus who are also in contact with approximately 25-30 Indian citizens living in Syria. "Previously, we had advised all Indian citizens in Syria to return to India. They have once again been advised to leave Syria. The earlier advisory for Indian nationals not to travel to Syria also remains in effect," the statement said.
This comes on a day when a Syrian security official was quoted by news agency AFP as saying that the country expects a military attack "at any moment".
"We are expecting an attack at any moment. We are ready to retaliate at any moment," said the Syrian security official, who wished to remain anonymous.
Hours later, US President Barack Obama said in a statement that he has decided that the United States should take military action against Syria in response to a deadly chemical weapons attack.
Obama, however, says he will seek congressional authorisation for the use of force. Obama says he has the authority to act on his own, but believes it is important for the country to have a debate.
The team of UN experts probing a suspected gas attack blamed on the Syrian regime has already left the country.
The UN inspectors are due to report straight back to United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon and detail their conclusions on whether a poison gas attack actually did take place on August 21, based on samples collected on site.
The Syrian regime has denied being responsible for the alleged incident - which Washington says killed more than 1,400 people.
In a statement today, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the government is in touch with its mission in Damascus who are also in contact with approximately 25-30 Indian citizens living in Syria. "Previously, we had advised all Indian citizens in Syria to return to India. They have once again been advised to leave Syria. The earlier advisory for Indian nationals not to travel to Syria also remains in effect," the statement said.
This comes on a day when a Syrian security official was quoted by news agency AFP as saying that the country expects a military attack "at any moment".
"We are expecting an attack at any moment. We are ready to retaliate at any moment," said the Syrian security official, who wished to remain anonymous.
Hours later, US President Barack Obama said in a statement that he has decided that the United States should take military action against Syria in response to a deadly chemical weapons attack.
Obama, however, says he will seek congressional authorisation for the use of force. Obama says he has the authority to act on his own, but believes it is important for the country to have a debate.
The team of UN experts probing a suspected gas attack blamed on the Syrian regime has already left the country.
The UN inspectors are due to report straight back to United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon and detail their conclusions on whether a poison gas attack actually did take place on August 21, based on samples collected on site.
The Syrian regime has denied being responsible for the alleged incident - which Washington says killed more than 1,400 people.
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