Germany has expelled four Syrian embassy staff as part of a drive to reduce ties with President Bashar al-Assad, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said on Monday. Berlin has told Syria's acting envoy that the four staff have until Thursday to leave Germany. "With the expulsion of the four embassy employees announced today we are sending a clear message that we are reducing relations with the Assad regime to an absolute minimum," Westerwelle said in a statement.

"We are counting on the (opposition) National Coalition strengthening further and building as soon as possible functioning institutions for a political transition," he added.

Copyright Reuters, 2012