UN head: Incidents like shelling Russian Embassy in Damascus totally unacceptable

The United Nations regards as unacceptable attacks on diplomatic missions, the UN secretariat stressed on Sunday in connection with an incident with mortar fire on the Russian Embassy in Damascus. “The Secretary-General is aware of the incident. As we have repeatedly stated in the past, attacks on diplomatic missions are totally unacceptable,” the UN head’s spokesman Martin Nesirky told Itar-Tass. On Sunday morning, Syrian gunmen launched a mortar attack on the Mezzeh district in Damascus. One of the mortar shells exploded in the territory of the Russian Embassy. Three staff members of the embassy were injured. Their lives are currently not in danger. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that “additional steps to ensure security of the embassy are currently being taken jointly with the competent Syrian authorities.” US State Department spokesperson Marie Harf had also condemned the shelling. “The United States condemns the shelling that hit the Russian Embassy compound in Damascus and expresses its concern for the welfare of those injured in the incident,” she said. “We condemn any attack against individuals or facilities protected by international law,” she said. “The United States continues to emphasize that those responsible for atrocities on all sides must be held accountable,” Harf said in a statement.