Syria ambassador off wedding list

Dr Khiyami’s invitation sparked a row

The Syrian ambassador’s invitation to Friday’s royal wedding has been withdrawn after officials said it was “inappropriate” for him to attend.

The decision to invite Dr Sami Khiyami had been criticised, amid condemnation of a violent crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in the country.

Dr Khiyami had been summoned to the Foreign Office over the situation.

The Foreign Office said his presence would be “unacceptable” and that Buckingham Palace “shared that view”.

More than 400 people are reported to have been killed in the past month as the Syrian authorities have cracked down on anti-government protests across the country.

The UK has called for an end to the “repression” and for greater political freedoms to be granted.

Amid a growing row over Dr Khiyami’s invitation, the Foreign Office said representatives of countries with which the UK has “normal diplomatic relations” had been invited to the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

But in a statement, it added: “An invitation does not mean endorsement or approval of the behaviour of any government, simply that we have normal diplomatic relations with that country.”

“In the light of this week’s attacks against civilians by the Syrian security forces, which we have condemned, the foreign secretary has decided that the presence of the Syrian ambassador at the royal wedding would be unacceptable and that he should not attend.

“Buckingham Palace shares the view of the Foreign Office that it is not considered appropriate for the Syrian ambassador to attend the wedding.”

BBC political correspondent Vicki Young said the Foreign Office had concluded that it would be too embarrassing for Dr Khiyami’s to be present at the ceremony in Westminster Abbey.

She said the Foreign Office had advised royal officials on the matter and they had agreed with the decision.

A number of Labour MPs, including former foreign secretary Jack Straw and defence minister Kevan Jones, expressed concerns about the invitation and it has been contrasted with the decision not to invite former Labour prime ministers Gordon Brown and Tony Blair.

Mr Jones warned of “the horrific spectre of killing on the streets of Syria while the Syrian ambassador is in Westminster Abbey for the royal wedding.”

Asked about the issue before it was confirmed that the invitation had been rescinded, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said who attended the Royal wedding was a matter for the Royal Family, not the government.

But he added: “I think the events in Syria are clearly the subject of huge concern, people are going to be very, very distressed and appalled by the heavy handed military tactics which the Syrian regime are now deploying on their own people.”

Some 200 members of Syria’s ruling Baath party are reported to have resigned over the violent crackdown against pro-democracy demonstrations in cities across the country.

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