Washington (ANTARA News/AFP) - Washington summoned the Syrian ambassador for talks this week after reports that embassy staff had filmed US protests against the crackdown in Syria, the State Department said Friday.

Ambassador Imad Mustapha was called in to meet with top State Department officials "to express a number of our concerns with the reported actions of certain Syrian embassy staff in the United States," the agency said.

"We received reports that Syrian mission personnel under Ambassador Mustapha`s authority have been conducting video and photographic surveillance of people participating in peaceful demonstrations in the United States."

Mustapha met with Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security Eric Boswell on Wednesday, according to a State Department statement.

"The United States government takes very seriously reports of any foreign government actions attempting to intimidate individuals in the United States who are exercising their lawful right to freedom of speech as protected by the US Constitution," it added. (*)

Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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