Syrian embassies in Europe, ME stormed

Dozens of Syrian protesters were arrested yesterday after storming their country's embassies in cities in Europe and the Middle East, smashing windows and setting fire in one case. Missions in London, Athens, Cairo, Kuwait City and Jeddah were targeted in protests yesterday, following a similar raid on the regime's embassy in Berlin the previous day. The attacks came as Syria's opposition said troops had committed a "massacre" overnight, killing more than 200 people in the central city of Homs, and as the UN Security Council readied for a crucial vote. Demonstrators smashed windows and tried to break into the Syrian embassy in London, hours after six protesters were arrested for entering the building overnight. Scuffles broke out between riot police and around 200 protesters outside the plush property in London's Belgrave Square, which is home to a string of embassies. A Scotland Yard spokesman said five people had been arrested for gaining access to the building after the demonstration started around 2:00 am. A sixth person was arrested for assaulting an officer. In Athens, about 50 mostly Syrian protestors broke into their country's embassy, smashing windows and painting anti-government slogans on the walls, a police source said. Police detained 12 Syrians and an Iraqi. In Cairo, dozens of activists tore down the gate to the embassy in the upscale Garden City neighbourhood, ransacked the mission and set fire to its ground floor. An AFP correspondent said the embassy's walls were charred and broken glass littered the ground, along with damaged furniture and computers. In Kuwait City, hundreds of angry Syrians and local activists stormed the embassy, removing the flag and destroying utilities, the interior ministry said, adding that some 40 people were arrested. In Jeddah, dozens of Syrians demonstrated outside the consulate, chanting "with our souls, with our blood, we sacrifice ourselves for the martyrs," before being dispersed by security forces. A day earlier in Berlin around 20 protesters broke into the Syrian embassy and "destroyed furniture, hung a flag from a window" and wrote slogans on the walls. All were arrested but released after police took their details. London - The Daily star