The Syrian ambassador, who operates from Brussels, has been summoned to the Dutch Foreign Ministry in The Hague. Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal says the deep concern about the ongoing violence in Syria has been expressed in “the strongest possible terms”.

Minister Rosenthal, who was in Prague at the time says the ambassador was told that Syrian President Bashar Assad should stand down to “make way for a non-violent transition”. He was also told that the Netherlands “strongly condemns the killing of innocent citizens who are fighting for freedom and legitimate rights”. He said, the Netherlands holds President Assad responsible for the violence.”

Minister Rosenthal withdrew the Dutch ambassador from Damascus on Tuesday for a meeting in response to the violence in Syria. The Dutch embassy, however, remains open.

The Foreign Ministry has advised Dutch citizens to leave the country temporarily. Those that stay must understand that the embassy can only provide limited help.

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