The US embassy in Syria announced Thursday it would be closed until Monday after the building was damaged during a protest by students angry at Israel.
The extended weekend will be used to repair the building, an embassy official said.
The US embassy in Damascus is usually closed Friday and Saturday, and Sunday will mark Columbus Day, a US national holiday, the official said.
Hundreds of students, enraged at the Israeli army for the violence that has killed some 70 Palestinians and Israeli Arabs over the past week, pelted stones at the embassy Wednesday, breaking its windows.
One demonstrator climbed a five meter (15-foot) high fence surrounding the building and pulled down the US flag. He was pursued by police who prevented him from throwing himself off a roof with the flag in his arms.
Syrian protesters also attacked the embassy in December 1998 after US and British air raids on Iraq - DAMASCUS (AFP)
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