The US embassy in Syria would be temporarily closed on Thursday due to a demonstration in Damascus to protest a deadly US cross-border raid in Abu Kamal near the Iraqi border that killed eight civilians.

The US embassy made the announcement on its website, noting a reported demonstration on Thursday and warning American citizens to avoid to be near the possible vicinities of it.

The US embassy will be closed on Thursday "due to past demonstrations which resulted in violence and significant damage to US facilities and other embassies," said the announcement.

It added that a Damascus-based US school would also temporarily close on Thursday.

The US embassy in Syria had said it may close to the public for fearing retaliation following the attack for an unspecified period of time, calling on Americans in Syria to remain alert to review their personal security.

Syrian parties and civil associations are planning to stage a demonstration in Damascus on Thursday to protest the raid, according to the independent al-Watan newspaper.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Syrian Foreign Ministry summoned Maura Connelly, US charge d'affaires in Damascus, officially informing her of the decision of the Syrian cabinet to close the US school and a cultural center in Damascus.

On Tuesday, the Syrian cabinet decided to close a Damascus-based American school and a US culture center in response to the US attack.

The US State Department and White House refused to comment on the attack, making no confirmation or denial to the incident.

But US officials explained that the raid killed a top operative of al-Qaida in Iraq who was about to conduct an attack in Iraq, as intelligence suggested.

(Xinhua News Agency October 30, 2008)