The Syrian government has warned U.S. Ambassador Robert Ford not to leave Damascus. But the U.S. government has demanded full freedom of movement in the country for its envoy, and that of France.
Syria warned Wednesday that Ford could be expelled from the country if he left Damascus again.
Ford recently visited protesters in the hotspot city of Hama in order to monitor the situation there. In a Washington Post column written by David Ignatius, unnamed Obama administration officials said the Syrian government perceives Ford to be leading an effort to unify the country's opposition movement. The ambassador, said one source, is being seen as a “vehicle for transition” in helping to establish “solid democratic leadership.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. earlier this week filed a protest with Syrian authorities, demanding complete freedom of movement for Ford and the French ambassador as well.
On Wednesday, Syria threatened to deport both ambassadors if they travel more than 15 miles out of Damascus. U.S. officials Wednesday demanded full freedom of movement for the envoys so that they could continue to record the atrocities by Syrian troops against protesters hoping to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.