Families of Turkish diplomats returned to Turkey after the country decided to evacuate them following violent protests that involved hundreds of Syrian government supporters who attacked Saturday the Turkish embassy in Damascus as well as its chief consulate in Aleppo and honorary consulate in Latakia, Anadolu Agency reported.
A Turkish Airlines plane took off earlier Sunday brought back the families of the Turkish diplomats as well as non-essential staff due to worsening security situation in Syria.
"The Turkish ambassador in Damascus and other diplomatic personnel will remain on duty," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said earlier today.
Hundreds of Syrian government supporters attacked the Turkish Embassy in after the Arab League voted to suspend Syria from its meetings and impose sanctions against the Syrian regime over its failure to end crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.
Pro-government demonstrators gathered outside the embassy in the evening as their numbers quickly reached to a thousand during the one-and-a-half-hour demonstration.
They chanted anti-Turkey slogans, hurled rocks and tried to force their way in through the main gate of the embassy compound.
Turkey's Chief Consulate in Aleppo and the country's honorary consulate in Latakia were also attacked in simultaneous demonstrations.
No embassy or consulate staff were hurt in the violent protests.