AUSTRALIA has joined an international diplomatic offensive against Syria in response to the regime's brutal crackdown on civilians, delivering a 72-hour ultimatum for its top envoy and a colleague to leave Canberra.
The rare move to cut official ties follows the worst violence in the year-long conflict, after more than 100 civilians, including women and children, were massacred when government troops shelled the city of Houla. It has been estimated that up to 15,000 people have been killed overall.
The Syrian embassy in Canberra was empty last night after the expulsion order was delivered late in the afternoon. Within hours, major euro zone nations - including France, Germany, Italy and Spain - along with Britain and Canada had flagged plans to expel Syrian envoys.
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The United States was also expected to announce the expulsion of the Syrian ambassador to Washington, it was reported late last night.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Bob Carr spoke to his British counterpart, William Hague, to confirm Australia had ordered Syrian charge d'affaires Jawdat Ali to leave.
''Australians have seen the bodies in Houla and they're appalled,'' Senator Carr said. ''Appalled that a regime could connive in or organise the execution, the killing, of men women and children.''
Mr Ali was understood to have been grimly resigned after the expulsion order was given but not surprised. The decision to expel the two diplomats is the strongest measure Canberra can take, given that Australia does not have an embassy in Damascus from which to withdraw diplomatic representative in return.
But the move also amounts to a concession that international action against the regime in the United Nations has effectively ground to a standstill, with Russia's veto power in the Security Council a block to stronger measures.
UN special envoy Kofi Annan met Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad in Damascus last night in an effort to revive a peace plan.
Mr Annan called on ''every individual with a gun'' to lay down arms and to stop the killing.
The deaths of at least 108 people, mostly women and children, in Houla on Friday shattered a month-long ceasefire that had barely held.
But Russia has made clear it will not support any foreign military intervention in the conflict, as occurred last year in Libya.
Western countries have instead moved to further isolate the regime.
''This is the most effective way we've got of sending a message of revulsion at what has happened in Syria,'' Senator Carr said. ''The message is the Syrian government should implement the ceasefire that has been called for by Kofi Annan and the Security Council, and beyond that give effect to a political settlement.''
Coalition foreign affairs spokeswoman Julie Bishop backed the expulsion, saying: ''It is clear that the Assad regime has abandoned any pretence at honouring its commitments to a halt in military action.''
Sources said last night that Syria had little chance to retaliate against Australia, with barely any trade between the countries and only a handful of Australians in Syria.
Canberra had been reluctant to cut ties earlier because it wanted to preserve a consular presence in Syria for any Australians who got into strife. This was provided by the Canadian embassy in Damascus. But Canada pulled its diplomats out in February, freeing Australia's hand.
Former foreign minister Kevin Rudd took a strong stance against brutality by the Syrian regime, calling last April for Bashar al-Assad to be tried by the International Criminal Court for human rights abuses.
