PROTESTERS loyal to President Bashar al Assad broke into the US embassy compound in the Syrian capital Damascus today, Reuters news agency reported.

Loyalists also reportedly tried to break into the French embassy. The attacks came as regime supporters protested outside both embassies for a third day.

The US and French ambassadors angered the Syrian regime last week when they visited the flashpoint city of Hama, which has seen some of the biggest protests against Assad’s rule.