France says it is expelling the Syrian ambassador to increase pressure on Damascus amid mounting violence by regime forces against civilians and opposition members. President Francois Hollande told reporters Tuesday that Ambassador Lamia Shakkour will be notified "today or tomorrow" that she must leave, according to a report of the Associated Press. Hollande said that in high-level discussions with British Prime Minister David Cameron and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon "we decided on a certain number of ... pressure tactics to apply to Syria," including the expulsion. The announcement came amid increasing diplomatic efforts to end the bloodshed and put pressure on Syrian President Bashar Assad. The U.N. said Tuesday that entire families were shot in their homes during a massacre in Syria last week that killed more than 100 people, including children.
