Breaking news - US Embassy under attack

[VF21]

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=TopNews&storyID=2006-09-12T073907Z_01_L12725168_RTRUKOC_0_US-SYRIA-EMBASSY.xml

Gunfire near U.S. embassy in Damascus
Tue Sep 12, 2006 3:39am ET

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Smoke rose from the Rawda area housing the U.S. embassy in central Damascus on Tuesday and the sound of heavy gunfire was heard around the complex, witnesses said.

The witnesses said Syrian security forces had surrounded the embassy building and sealed off the area.

No other details were immediately available.

The area also houses vital security installations and the houses of the most senior officials in the Syrian government.

"It appears that the embassy is coming under attack," one resident in the area told Reuters.

 

[VF21]

Update: 4:29 a.m.

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Four armed men attacked the United States embassy in Damascus on Tuesday but the assault was repelled and Syrian officials said all diplomats were safe.

The officials said the four men shouted religious slogans, threw a grenade into the yard of the embassy. One official said the four attackers were killed and witnesses said at least one Syrian guard was killed.

The officials said all U.S. diplomats were safe.

 

[VF21]

Latest update: 4:34 a.m.
(Adds details, background)
By Khaled Oweis

DAMASCUS, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Four armed men shouting religious slogans attacked the United States embassy in Damascus on Tuesday but the assault was repelled and Syrian officials said all diplomats were safe.

The officials said the four men threw a grenade into the yard of the embassy. One official said the four attackers were killed and witnesses said at least one Syrian guard died.

The officials said all U.S. diplomats were safe.

Smoke was seen rising from the diplomatic area in the Syrian capital and heavy gunfire was heard.

The embassy is in the Rawda area which also houses vital security installations, the houses of senior Syrian officials and other embassies.

The witnesses said Syrian security forces surrounded the embassy building and sealed off the area.

Britain's ambassador to Syria Peter Ford told CNN that the attack did not appear to be a "major al-Qaeda like operation, but an operation by a small group".

The U.S. State Department in Washington confirmed an attack had taken place but gave no other details.

The attack came one day after the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States by Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda.

 

[hoopsfan]

Why does this not surprise me?