Czech diplomats represent USA in Damascus, agreement signed

Prague, Aug 10 (CTK) - Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Galuska and U.S. ambassador to Prague Norman Eisen Friday signed a memorandum on providing consular services for the United States in Syria by the Czech embassy in Damascus.

Washington has closed down its mission in Damascus over unrest in the country. The USA asked the Czech Republic to represent it in Damascus and Prague has complied with the request.

"The Czech Republic accepted the official request to act as the United States' Protecting Power at the end of July," the Foreign Ministry says on its website.

The United States is another state, after Slovakia, to use the Czech diplomatic presence in Damascus.

Washington withdrew its diplomats from the Syrian capital in February. Then the U.S. interests in Syria were represented by Poland, which, however, closed its own embassy down for security reasons two weeks ago.

Prague has decided to leave its embassy in Damascus open although some other countries have closed theirs. It said the Czech embassy is ready to provide services for other states, too.

Syria has been tormented by fights between President Bashar Assad's regime and rebel units that have claimed about 18,000 victims, according to estimates. Civilians are leaving the country en masse. The EU and the USA have called on Assad to step down. Syria is facing sanctions.

Syrian troops are now fighting rebels in the city of Aleppo, on the outskirts of Damascus and in several other provinces of the country.