DAMASCUS, 15 September 2006 — The US Embassy in Damascus said yesterday that nonessential employees may choose to leave Syria if they want to, two days after a brazen attack on the mission left five people dead including four militants.
Four suspected Muslim extremists attacked the embassy Tuesday morning with automatic rifles and hand grenades. Three of gunmen and a Syrian guard was killed in the clash and the fourth militant later died of his wounds.
No Americans were hurt in the attack, but a dozen other people were wounded.
“Nonessential employees as well as guests of staffers have been permitted to leave the country,” said an embassy official.
