Syria apologizes for embassy attacks

Syria's foreign minister, Walid Muallem, apologized today for protester attacks on foreign embassies in Damascus after the Arab League voted to suspend his country from the bloc.

"I, as foreign minister, apologize for this matter," Muallem told a news conference in the Syrian capital.

"It is important ... that this does not repeat itself. The protection of the embassies is part of our responsibilities. For this reason I apologize for what happened."

Late Saturday, hundreds of angry demonstrators attacked the embassies of France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Qatar and Saudi Arabia were among the countries that voted to suspend Syria from the Arab League.