Canada joins others, closes embassy in Damascus

TURMOIL IN THE ARAB WORLD | SYRIA

AMMAN — Syria’s military pursued a crackdown on rebels on several fronts on Monday, days after eliminating an opposition bastion in the central city of Homs following a 26- day siege, activists said.

Troops kept the Red Cross out of the wrecked Homs district of Baba Amr for a fourth day and foreign mediators sought to end year- long violence as more civilians fled to nearby Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Canada has closed its embassy in Syria, an announcement made as the federal government said it would try to further put the financial squeeze on the country’s leadership.

The closure of the embassy follows similar moves by other countries, including the United States, Britain and, most recently, France, which made the announcement after the death of two French journalists in the city of Homs last week.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said services at the embassy and consulate in Syria are being suspended “effective immediately.”

Baird said Canada would widen its economic sanctions, freezing the assets of seven government ministers. Baird said the sanctions wouldn’t be lifted until the president handed over power. The sanctions now cover 115 individuals and 39 entities, including the Central Bank of Syria.

Braving army patrols, hundreds of Syrians crossed into Lebanon in the last 24 hours to escape the heaviest shelling of their border towns since the revolt against President Bashar Assad began last March.

In the hillside town of Arsal in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, residents said 100- 150 families arrived on Sunday, one of the biggest refugee influxes so far.

Families trekked on foot through snow- capped hills to safety, but many others were caught, one refugee told Reuters.

Syria has so far brushed off international pressure to halt its violent response to an uprising that was inspired by revolts that have toppled four Arab autocrats.