U.S., French Envoys in Hama, Syria Accuses Ford of Meeting 'Saboteurs'

Both the U.S. and French ambassadors to Syria were in the protest hub of Hama on Friday to observe anti-regime rallies there as nearly half a million people demonstrated in the flashpoint central city.

The move prompted the Syrian government to accuse the U.S. ambassador to Damascus, Robert Ford, of meeting "saboteurs" in Hama and inciting protests against President Bashar al-Assad.

"The U.S. ambassador met with saboteurs in Hama ... who erected checkpoints, cut traffic and prevented citizens from going to work," the interior ministry said in a statement.

"The ambassador incited these saboteurs to violence, to demonstrate, and to refuse dialogue," with the government, it added.

Ford arrived in the city on Thursday, prompting Damascus to hit out at the United States for meddling in Syrian affairs.

"The presence of the U.S. ambassador in Hama without previous permission is obvious proof of the implication of the United States in the ongoing events, and of their attempts to increase (tensions), which damage Syria's security and stability," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"Syria warns against such irresponsible behavior and stresses its determination to continue to take all measures that will bring back calm and stability to the country," it added.

Despite that warning, more than 450,000 people marched in the Syrian hotbed city of Hama on Friday calling for the end to Assad's regime, a rights activist said.

The demonstrators reiterated their "refusal to dialogue with the regime and called for its fall," said Rami Abdul Rahman, chief of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Hama has been a symbol of opposition since the 1982 crackdown on a revolt by the banned Muslim Brotherhood against then-president Hafez al-Assad, father of the present leader, in which some 20,000 people were killed.

The authorities had told demonstrators to avoid any confrontations and clear the streets so residents could go to work and to avoid what it called a "last resort" military operation, according to Al-Watan newspaper.

The Syrian Observatory said that about 100 families -- or 1,000 people in total -- had fled Hama, where it said Syrian troops had killed 25 civilians since Tuesday, fearing a military crackdown during Friday protests.

For his part, France's ambassador to Syria traveled to Hama to “show solidarity with the victims” of a crackdown on anti-government protestors, officials said Friday.

"He went to show France's engagement with the victims, the civilian population," foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero told reporters, adding that the envoy went to Hama on Thursday.

"The French ambassador did go to Hama yesterday," Valero confirmed in Paris. "In particular, he went to one of the main hospitals in the city where he met medical teams, the wounded and their families.

"France repeats its concern over the fate of the inhabitants of the city of Hama, and its condemnation of the violence being carried out by Syrian authorities against the protesters and the civilian population."

Later on Friday, the U.S. embassy in Damascus denied that the U.S. ambassador had incited people to violence during his visit to Hama, saying he had gone there as an observer.

Ford "certainly did not incite anyone to anything," press attache JJ Harder said.

"He met with average Syrian citizens and received a warm welcome. Some had been part of the marches in the Syrian streets over the past few months."

Ford "wanted to see with his own eyes what was happening on the ground," as "the lack of uninhibited access for international media makes this even more important."

Harder said that, "happily (Ford) did not witness violence from either the government or the protesters."

He stressed that the embassy had informed the government that a delegation was going to Hama on Thursday and Friday.

Harder added that Ford's visit "shows that the United States is committed to supporting the Syrian people’s right to assemble and express themselves freely through peaceful demonstrations.

"We wish the Syrian government would allow international media to have unfettered access so that they could report on this."

Harder also took issue with Syrian government claims that armed gangs are the problem in Hama.

"Ambassador Ford saw no evidence of this. We continue to urge the Syrian government to withdraw its forces from cities and allow peaceful protests."

For its part, the U.S. State Department voiced dismay Friday over Syria’s criticism of Ford’s visit, slamming as "absolute rubbish" the charge that his presence in the restive city was a provocation.

Ford left Hama at midday Friday after meeting several demonstrators and returned to Damascus, said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland, adding the Syrian authorities had been informed in advance of the visit.

"Frankly we're a little bit dismayed," Nuland told reporters in Washington, adding the idea that Ford's trip to the flashpoint city was a surprise for the Syrian government "doesn't make sense."

Nuland acknowledged Ford was there in part to witness the mass demonstrations.

"He witnessed average Syrians asking for change in their country," Nuland said, adding that Syria's complaint that his visit was a provocation is "absolute rubbish."