US summons Syrian ambassador over 'protest filming'

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14090905

8 July 2011 Last updated at 21:24 ET

US summons Syrian ambassador over 'protest filming'

The US State Department has summoned Syria's ambassador after receiving reports

of Syrian diplomats filming people protesting peacefully in the US.

Imad Mustapha was told of " a number of US concerns " involving embassy staff, the

State Department said.

The US says it is also investigating reports that Damascus may have acted

against protesters' families in Syria.

Meanwhile, it has rejected a Syrian claim that the US ambassador has been

inciting protests in the city of Hama.

The State Department said Ambassador Ford had gone to Hama to show

solidarity with the Syrian people and the protesters he met were friendly and

peaceful.

Thousands of people across Syria joined renewed demonstrations against President

Bashar al-Assad on Friday and at least 14 people were reported killed.

'Retribution' concerns

The Syrian ambassador was summoned to the US State Department by Assistant

Secretary for Diplomatic Security Boswell on Wednesday, a statement said.

" We received reports that Syrian mission personnel under Ambassador Mustapha's

authority have been conducting video and photographic surveillance of people

participating in peaceful demonstrations in the United States, " a spokesman told

a White House press briefing on Friday.

" The United States government takes very seriously reports of any foreign

government actions attempting to intimidate individuals in the United States who

are exercising their lawful right to freedom of speech as protected by the US

Constitution.

" We are also investigating reports that the Syrian government has sought

retribution against Syrian family members for the actions of their relatives in

the United States exercising their lawful rights in this country and will

respond accordingly. "

Syria condemned Ambassador Ford's visit to the restive central city of Hama as

proof that Washington was inciting unrest across Syria.

The interior ministry said Mr Ford had met " saboteurs and incited them to

violence, protest and rejection of dialogue " .

Mr Ford and French ambassador Chevallier travelled to Hama on Thursday to

show solidarity with demonstrators, but left before Friday's protests began,

according to officials in Washington and Paris.

US State Department spokesman Nuland said Mr Ford had been welcomed

with flowers and olive branches by protesters.

" When he got into the city the car was immediately surrounded by friendly

protesters who were putting flowers on the windshields, they were putting olive

branches on the car, they were chanting 'down with the regime', " she said.

Tanks were deployed outside Hama last weekend after the city witnessed the

largest protest since anti-government demonstrations began in March.

At least 22 people in Hama have since been killed by security forces. Many

families have fled the city fearing a government crackdown.

Protesters on Friday signalled their rejection of the government's proposed

national dialogue conference on Sunday.

Hama was the scene of a brutal crackdown in 1982 ordered by Hafez al-Assad,

President Assad's father, which left at least 10,000 people dead.