Italy recalls ambassador to Syria

Italy has recalled its ambassador to Syria for consultations, citing Damascus’s “horrible repression against the civilian population”.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement today that Rome is urging all EU nations to recall their envoys to Syria.

The Syrian government has launched brutal attacks on anti-government demonstrations as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan began.

Yesterday, Syrian forces shelled the city of Hama for a second day and fired at worshippers heading to Ramadan prayers.

Violence on Sunday left 74 people dead throughout the country, 55 of them from Hama and nearby, according to rights groups.

Rome made the move ``in order to send a strong signal of condemnation for the inacceptable repression,'' said Italian Foreign Ministry undersecretary Stefania Craxi.

Craxi said Syrian President Bashar Assad appeared “incapable” of handling the situation and implementing the serious reforms that both his citizens and the international community demand, the ANSA news agency reported.

Rome will also suspend co-operative programmes with Damascus.