US embassy in Syria closes as thousands protest against raid

TENS of thousands of Syrians turned out yesterday for a huge government-orchestrated protest against a deadly US raid near the Iraqi border.

A mile away, hundreds of Syrian riot police formed a protective ring around the closed US embassy, but the flag-waving crowds dispersed peacefully after a couple of hours, with students heading to schools and employees to work.

The troops, wearing helmets and armed with batons and shields, took up positions around the embassy and the adjacent US residence building. The embassy was closed because of security concerns related to the protest, and the American school in Damascus was also shut for the day.