TORRANCE, California (AFP) — The White House on Wednesday condemned Syria's arrest of former opposition lawmaker Riad Seif, saying it was an "escalation" of the Syrian regime's repression of its own people.
"The United States condemns the arrest on Monday of democracy activist Riad Seif by the Syrian regime," White House spokesman Tony Fratto said in a statement.
"His arrest, which follows repeated refusals by the regime to allow Mr. Seif to travel abroad for medical treatment, is an escalation of a long series of Syrian efforts to deny its citizens the internationally recognized rights of freedom of expression and association," Fratto said.
"The Syrian regime cannot expect to be treated as a respected member of the international community while it engages in such systematic repression of its own citizens," he said in the statement issued in Torrance, California, where President George W. Bush was visiting.
"In addition to Mr. Seif, who already suffered five years in a Syrian prison, the Syrian regime continues to hold more than four thousand political prisoners, including ten of Seif's fellow members of the Damascus Declaration National Council," Fratto said.
"Through acts such as this, Syrian President (Bashar al-Assad) Assad has made clear his contempt for the most basic rights of the Syrian people," the spokesman added.
"We call on the Syrian regime to release immediately all political prisoners ... and to cease its harassment of Syrian citizens who are working peacefully for human rights and basic freedoms in their country," Fratto said.
Syrian authorities charged Seif with a series of national security offenses Tuesday, according to the National Organization for Human Rights in Syria.
A further 10 dissidents who attended last month's meeting of the National Council of the Damascus Declaration were charged with the same offenses on Monday.
The Damascus Declaration calls for radical democratic change in the country, and has united communist, nationalist, liberal and Kurdish parties.
Bush has applauded the formation of the grouping, saying its members "reflect the desires of the majority of Syrian people to live in freedom, democracy, and peace."
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