OTTAWA - Canada has withdrawn its remaining diplomats from Syria and closed the embassy in Damascus.
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said the deteriorating security situation forced the pullout.
"Canada has maintained its diplomatic presence in Syria -- despite the risks -- to monitor developments on the ground and to deliver tough and frank messages to the Syrian authorities," Baird said in a statement.
"These messages will continue to be delivered directly through the Syrian embassy here in Ottawa and through our other international forums."
Canada has been urging Canadians to leave Syria for months. Any still remaining can still seek consular help through Beirut, Lebanon, or Amman, Jordan.
The closure came as Baird also announced more sanctions against Syria, including a freeze on the assets of the country's central bank and seven senior ministers in the government of Bashir Assad.
The ministers involved in the latest sanctions are: Health Minister Wael Nader Al Halqi, Minister of Presidential Affairs Mansour Fadlallah Azzam, Communications Minister Emad Abdul-Ghani Sabouni, Petroleum Minister Sufian Allaw, Industry Minister Adnan Slakho, Education Minister Saleh Al-Rashed and Transport Minister Fayssal Abbas.
Canada now has imposed travel bans, sanctions and freezes on 115 Syrian individuals and 39 entities.
Baird is calling for a wider international effort to pressure the Assad regime.
"We must put concerted and intense international pressure on the regime to stop the violence and to allow a peaceful, Syrian-led transition," he said. "Those responsible for the violence across Syria must be held accountable for their actions."
The minister said Assad must go.
"Change will happen. Syrians will have their day -- and Canada stands with the Syrian people in their push for a better, brighter future."
