Kuwait Has No Plan to Expel Syrian Ambassador

Kuwait, which has called for a halt to bloodshed in Syria, said on Sunday it has no plans to expel the Syrian ambassador as demanded by MPs and protesters.

"The Syrian ambassador is here and he will stay in accordance with diplomatic agreements," foreign ministry undersecretary Khaled al-Jarallah told reporters.

Hundreds of Kuwaitis staged demonstrations on Friday in solidarity with the Syrian people and demanded the expulsion of the Syrian ambassador and the recalling of Kuwait's envoy from Damascus.

In May, 27 of the 50-member parliament in the oil-rich emirate urged the Kuwaiti government to expel the Syrian ambassador and reduce relations with Syria over the killing of thousands of protesters.

Kuwaitis plan to march on the Syrian mission in Kuwait City on Tuesday to press for the expulsion of the ambassador.

A Kuwait foreign ministry official on Friday urged a halt in Syria's deadly crackdown on pro-democracy protesters and called for dialogue and "true reforms" to end the crisis.