The Gulf Arab States recall their ambassador from Damascus

Gulf monarchies joined mounting international pressure on the Syria regime on Tuesday, deciding to expel its envoys and withdraw their own over the "mass slaughter" of civilians.

"State members have decided to withdraw their ambassadors from Syria and ask at the same time for all the ambassadors of the Syrian regime to leave immediately," the six Gulf Cooperation Council states said in a statement, the AFP reports.

Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia had already recalled their ambassadors from Damascus. Oman and the United Arab Emirates had not.

The Gulf Arab States' announcement came after France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain said on Tuesday that they were following Britain and Belgium in bringing back their envoys for consultations. The United States has closed its Damascus embassy entirely.

The BBC reports that the moves came as Syrian government forces continued their fierce assault on the restive city of Homs.

After meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Syrian media quoted President Bashar al-Assad as saying he was willing to co-operate with "any efforts towards stability".

Amr Al-Azm, professor of Middle East History and member of the Syrian National Council, said the "mishandling of Syria's internal problems has led to the country sliding into a civil war".