Syrian Diplomats Expelled from Persian Gulf Amidst Rising Violence

The member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) recalled their Syrian ambassadors on Tuesday after violence against protestors in the country escalated yet again.

The six-nation group of Persian Gulf states -- comprising Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates -- also expelled all Syrian diplomats from their respective counties.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, current head of the council, announces that the GCC states have decided to withdraw all their ambassadors from Syria and also demand that all ambassadors of the Syrian regime in its lands leave immediately, the group stated on Tuesday.

The GCC's actions are a further sign that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has lost nearly all support in the region. The Arab League has put pressure on Assad to resign, while long-time ally Turkey has imposed economic sanctions on Syria and repeatedly condemned Assad's brutality.

At least 128 people were killed across Syria on Monday, and fighting in the embattled city of Homs ran throughout the weekend, reoortedly resulting in scores of deaths.

The situation is beyond description, the opposition Syrian Revolution General Commission in a statement. Some of these martyrs were killed with shrapnel and the others were under the rubble, and their bodies couldn't be identified because they were in remains.

France, England and the United States have also pulled their ambassadors from Syria and have no further interest in negotiating with Assad. Germany may also consider withdrawing its diploamtic staff in Damascus. Turkey plans to initiate another diplomatic effort to get the Syrian president to resign.

Sooner or later Syria will be held to account on Homs, Prime Minister Recep Ergodan commented. You reap what you sow.

Additionally, the United Nations Security Council tried to pass a resolution on Syria on Saturday, but met with a veto from China and Russia. On Tuesday, Russia Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Assad in Damascus to discuss the ongoing situation.

The United Nations estimates that at least 6,000 people have been killed in Syria since protests began last March.