Syrian protesters attack U.S. Embassy

BEIRUT -- Hundreds of Syrian government supporters attacked the U.S. Embassy in Damascus yesterday, smashing windows and spray-painting walls with obscenities and graffiti. Guards at the French Embassy fired in the air to ward off more protesters.

The sharp escalation in tensions followed a visit last week by the American and French ambassadors to the city of Hama, a stronghold of opposition to President Bashar Assad. Syrian authorities were angered by the visit and U.S. Ambassador Robert Ford's harsh criticism afterward of the government crackdown on a four-month-old uprising. Ford's residence was also attacked yesterday.

The United States and France both accused Syrian forces of being too slow to respond and demanded the government abide by its international obligations to protect diplomatic missions and allow envoys freedom of movement.

The United States protested formally, calling the attacks "outrageous," and saying the demonstrators were incited by a television station heavily influenced by Syrian authorities.

"Ford, get out now," protesters wrote on a paper hung on the U.S. Embassy's fence.

"The people want to kick out the dog," read graffiti scrawled in red on the wall of the embassy, along with another line cursing America. The protesters smashed the embassy sign hanging over one gate.

The United States said it would seek compensation for damage.

Syrian-U.S. relations have been mired in mutual distrust for years. But yesterday's attacks were the worst such violence since 2000, when a stone-throwing mob attacked and vandalized the U.S. Embassy and the ambassador's residence over American and British airstrikes against Iraq.

The White House has criticized the regime's violent crackdown on peaceful protests but has refrained from calling for an end to the Assad family's four decades of rule, seemingly wary of pressing too hard as it tries to wind down wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and faces criticism for joining the coalition battling Moammar Gadhafi in Libya.

U.S. officials said about 300 "thugs" breached the wall of the embassy compound before being dispersed by Marine guards. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the mob got onto the roof of the chancery building, spray-painted graffiti and broke windows and security cameras. They lobbed fruits and vegetables at the compound.