Egypt recalls its ambassador to Syria

CAIRO - Reuters

A demonstrator punches through a portrait of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad during a protest outside the Syrian Embassy in London. REUTERS photo

Egypt recalled its ambassador to Damascus, state television said today, in what appeared to be the latest step in a series of Arab diplomatic moves to intensify pressure on President Bashar al-Assad, who is trying to crush a popular uprising in Syria. 

State news agency MENA said the decision was made after a visit from Egypt's ambassador Shawky Ismail to Cairo. The foreign ministry decided to keep him in the Egyptian capital "until further notice."