Syria expels ambassadors of Tunisia, Libya

Damascus, Feb. 13 (ANI): Syria has expelled the ambassadors of Libya and Tunisia and given them 72- hour deadline to leave the country.

The Syrian embassy in Qatar was also shut down, and Syrian ambassadors to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have also been expelled, Syria's Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi said.

The move comes apparently in retaliation to similar actions taken against Syrian diplomats in those countries, Xinhua reports.

Tunisia was the first Arab country to announce the decision to expel Syria's ambassador and to cut ties with the Syrian government.

Libyan Foreign Ministry had also announced its decision to expel Syria's charge d'affaires and his staff, adding that it expects all Syrian diplomats to leave the country within the next 72 hours.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have also decided to withdraw their ambassadors in Syria, according to a GCC statement issued earlier this month. (ANI)