Foreign Office warns Britons to leave Syria immediately

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13822576

18 June 2011 Last updated at 08:27 ET

Foreign Office warns Britons to leave Syria immediately

Britons have been urged to leave Syria immediately as the situation in the

Middle East country continues to deteriorate amid civil unrest.

The Foreign Office said Britons should use " commercial means " to leave while

they were still available.

In a statement the FCO said it would be " highly unlikely " its embassy in

Damascus would be able to help if the situation were to deteriorate further.

Evacuation options would also " be limited " it added.

'Number of deaths'

Violence between protesters opposed to Syria's leadership and the security

forces has flared across the country in recent weeks.

The new advice comes amid reports of Syrian troops moving into a village firing

guns and setting fire to houses, part of a campaign to crush a revolt in the

north-west of the country.

The FCO has advised against travel to Syria for some time, but said its advice

had been reviewed and reissued following " continued violent disturbances in

urban centres across the country, including the capital Damascus " .

" Military operations and clashes between protesters and security forces have

resulted in a significant number of deaths, " it added.

The advice warned that due to the ongoing crackdown, main roads and border

crossings may be closed at short notice.

Certain crossings into Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq were all listed as places to

avoid.

It also advised Britons to avoid public gatherings and demonstrations " of any

kind " as there had been live gunfire at some events.

" If you are caught up in such a situation, you should keep a low profile, leave

the area as soon as it is safe to do so and make your way to a safe location, "

the statement advised.

Death toll

Activists say at least 19 people were shot dead on Friday during protests

against Syria's President Bashar al-Assad.

Syrian state media reported that a policeman had been killed and many others

wounded.

Saturday's violence were centred around the town of Bdama, about 2km (1.2 miles)

from the Turkish border.

" I counted nine tanks, 10 armoured carriers, 20 jeeps and 10 buses. I saw gunmen

setting fire to two houses, " Saria Hammouda, a lawyer from Bdama, told the

Associated Press news agency.

Reports say at least 70 people were arrested.

Bdama is close to Jisr al-Shughour, the focus of an army operation a week ago.

The UN says that at least 1,100 people have died since protests against

President Assad began in March.

Syrian rights groups put the overall death toll in Syria at 1,297 civilians and

340 security force members.