Syria: Assad supporters attack US and French embassies

US diplomats said the Syrian government had assured them it would provide adequate protection

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Supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have attacked the US and French embassies in Damascus.

The US state department accused Syria of failing to protect the embassy and demanded compensation for the damage. No-one was hurt in the incident.
Earlier, guards at the French embassy fired into the air to disperse a crowd.
The protests come days after the US and French ambassadors visited the central city of Hama, where an anti-government rally was held on Friday.
The separate visits - which both governments said were meant to express solidarity with the opposition - drew sharp criticism from Damascus.
Pro-government demonstrators have been taking part in protests outside both embassies for the past two days.
Human rights groups say at least 1,400 civilians and 350 security force personnel have been killed since anti-government demonstrations across Syria began in mid-March.
'Dog'

Protesters also targeted the French embassy in Damascus

A US embassy official in Damascus told the BBC on Monday afternoon that the embassy had come under attack by a "mob".
The official said that the Syrian government had given assurances that they would provide adequate protection for the embassy.
But on this occasion, the authorities were slow to respond, he added.
Witnesses told the Associated Press news agency that the protesters had smashed windows and raised a Syrian flag on the compound.
They also wrote anti-US graffiti referring to the ambassador, Robert Ford, as a "dog", the witnesses said.
Mr Ford's residence, which is not part of the embassy compound, was later briefly assaulted, but the building remained secure, officials said.
In a statement, the US state department said: "We strongly condemn the Syrian government's refusal to protect our embassy, and demand compensation for damages."
The US embassy official told the BBC that the real story in Syria was the fact that the government continued to imprison, torture and kill citizens because they wanted to protest.
The Syrian government denies targeting civilians, saying it is tackling armed groups.
The incidents coincide with a government-organised dialogue conference in Damascus that many opposition leaders are boycotting.
The meeting is discussing possible political reforms, which the government hope will bring an end to the four-month-old uprising.
As the conference opened on Sunday, Vice-President Farouq al-Shara hinted at allowing political groups other than the ruling Baath Party to operate.