Security Council Condemns Attacks on U.S., French Embassies in Syria

The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday issued a statement condemning "in the strongest terms" the attacks against the U.S. and French embassies in the Syrian capital, Damascus.

The statement which was approved by all 15 council members said the attacks damaged the embassies and injured diplomatic personnel.

The council called on Syrian authorities to fulfill their obligation to protect "the inviolability of diplomatic missions" and staff as required under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Syria's U.N. Ambassador Bashar Jaafari accused the United States and France of distorting and exaggerating the facts surrounding Monday's demonstrations outside their embassies.

Nonetheless, he said Syrian law enforcement authorities "made every effort to ensure the safety of those embassies" and is committed to protecting embassies and diplomats.