U.S. Withdraws Ambassador to Syria

The United States has withdrawn its ambassador to Damascus, saying the Syrian government made threats against him. Ambassador Robert Ford returned to the United States due to "credible threats against his personal safety”—threats it blamed on Bashar al-Assad’s government. Ford has defended and met with Syrian protesters while criticizing Assad’s government. Last month he was pelted with eggs and tomatoes as he visited an opposition leader—a humiliation the U.S. says the Syrian government planned in order to intimidate diplomats who assist its critics.