Tensions rise between Damascus, Washington over American air raid that killed Syrian civilians.
Thousands of people began marching in the streets of Damascus on Thursday to protest at a deadly American raid on a village near the Iraqi border which Syria has branded a barbaric act.
Security was boosted around the area in central Damascus housing the US embassy which was closed on Thursday ahead of the demonstration because of the potential threat of violence.
"Colonialists, listen, the people of Syria will never be brought to their knees," cried youths as they gathered in the city centre.
"God, Syria, Bashar," they chanted, referring to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Demonstrators waved Syrian flags and banners reading "No to American terrorism" and "American democracy -- the killing of civilians at Abu Kamal," the area targeted in Sunday's US raid.
The US embassy announced on its website that it had closed for Thursday because of a possible demonstration and "therefore, American citizens should avoid these vicinities as well as the vicinity of the US embassy in Damascus."
Damascus says eight civilians, including children, were killed in a helicopter assault on Sunday launched by US troops from Iraq on a Syrian village near the border.
A US official in Washington has said the operation targeted a top militant who smuggled arms and fighters into Iraq but officially the State Department and Pentagon have declined to comment.
On Tuesday, Syria protested to the UN Security Council over what it branded a barbaric action by the United States.
On Wednesday, Iraqi demonstrators gathered in the Abu Rumaneh district near the Iraqi and US embassies, chanting slogans condemning the helicopter raid and brandishing placards.
Some of protesters brandished placards slamming the incident, one of which read: "Iraqis in Syria denounce the vile American aggression against Syrian people and territory."
Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Meqdad said his government -- which has already demanded the closure of the American school and the US cultural centre -- is awaiting an explanation from Washington and Baghdad about the raid before deciding whether to take further retaliatory steps.
Syria said it is still awaiting an explanation from Washington.
"Syria is awaiting official explanations from the US and Iraqi governments on this unacceptable violation of Syrian sovereignty before taking additional measures," Meqdad said.
The state news agency SANA, which quoted Meqdad, said he was speaking at a meeting with ambassadors accredited to Damascus to brief them on "this aggressive and unjustified act."
Iraq on Tuesday had slammed the deadly American helicopter raid.
"The Iraqi government rejects the US helicopter strike on Syrian territory, considering that Iraq's constitution does not allow its land to be a base for launching attacks on neighbouring countries," Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said in a statement.
"We call upon American forces not to repeat such activities and Baghdad has launched an investigation into the strike."
On Monday Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, said: "Killing civilians in international law means a terrorist aggression."
Syria and the United States have long had a rocky relationship.
Source: Agencies
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