Syrian envoys invite revoked

Human rights groups had criticised the decision to invite Syrian Ambassador Sami Khiyami to Prince William and Kate Middletons nuptials at Westminster Abbey on Friday.

The government said ambassadors from all countries with which Britain has normal diplomatic relations had been invited to the wedding some 185 in all and that an invitation did not condone regimes behaviour.

But the Foreign Office said Thursday that in the light of this weeks attacks against civilians by the Syrian security forces,which we have condemned,the Foreign Secretary has decided that the presence of the Syrian ambassador at the royal wedding would be unacceptable and that he should not attend.

It said Buckingham Palace shared that view.

The Syrian Embassy in London said it was not immediately able to comment.

Britain has been strongly critical of the violence in Syria,and on Wednesday summoned Khiyami to the Foreign Office for a dressing-down.

Other diplomatic omissions from the guest list include the ambassadors of Libya where Britain is involved in NATO action to back opposition forces fighting Muammar Gaddafis regime and Malawi,whose envoy was expelled from London this week in a tit-for-tat diplomatic feud.