Damascus, Aug 8: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain recalled their Damascus envoys as Sunni Islam's top body today urged an end to the crisis in Syria, increasing the regional isolation of President Bashar al-Assad.
 Hours after the Saudi envoy's recall, rights activists said security forces shot dead a mother and her two children in the eastern city of Deir Ezzor, where 42 people were reported killed in an army assault yesterday.
 The recalls by Riyadh and fellow Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members Kuwait and Bahrain marked a major escalation of pressure on Assad.
 His regime's repression of a pro-democracy uprising has left at least 2,059 people dead, including almost 400 members of the security forces, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
 "Saudi Arabia announces the recall of its ambassador for consultations," King Abdullah said in a statement after Syrian security forces killed more than 50 people yesterday.
 He urged Damascus to "stop the killing machine and the bloodshed... Before it is too late."
 "The kingdom does not accept the situation in Syria, because the developments cannot be justified," King Abdullah said, urging "comprehensive and quick reforms."
 "The future of Syria lies between two options: either Syria chooses willingly to resort to reason, or faces being swept into deep chaos, God forbid," he said.
 The Saudi decision to recall its ambassador from Damascus was followed by Kuwait and Bahrain. AFP

Lastupdate on : Mon, 8 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
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