Syria asks foreign staff of U.S. institutions to leave country

Syrian authorities have asked the staff of the American school and cultural center in Damascus to leave Syria within 48 hours, Lebanese radio reported Monday.

A week ago, Damascus ordered the closure of the facilities, in what appeared to be a response to a U.S. commando raid inside Syria on October 26.

Syria says four helicopters attacked a building near its border with Iraq, killing eight civilians, but U.S. officials say the target was a top al- Qaida figure in Iraq.

The school and the cultural center, which are linked to the U.S. embassy, serve a small American community and other foreign residents in the Syrian capital.

On Sunday, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem said his country may resort to more "painful" measures if the United States does not give an official explanation for the raid. He did not elaborate.

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