Syrian Charge D’Affaires in London Resigns, U.K. Government Says

The U.K. Foreign Office said Syria’s charge d’affaires, Khaled al-Ayoubi, has left his post in the Syrian Embassy in London, saying he’s unwilling to represent President Bashar al-Assad’s government any longer.

“Mr. al-Ayoubi has told us that he is no longer willing to represent a regime that has committed such violent and oppressive acts against its own people and is therefore unable to continue in his position,” the Foreign Office said in an e- mailed statement today. “Mr. al-Ayoubi was the most senior Syrian diplomat serving in London.”

“His departure is another blow to the Assad regime,” the Foreign Office said. “It illustrates the revulsion and despair the regime’s actions are provoking amongst Syrians from all walks of life, inside the country and abroad.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Kitty Donaldson in London at kdonaldson1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Eddie Buckle at ebuckle@bloomberg.net