DAMASCUS, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Syria expressed regret on Sunday for Saturday's violent protests in which angry demonstrators torched Danish and Norwegian embassies in Damascus over publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad in the two countries.

    "Despite the big understanding of feelings of the popular anger over publication of caricatures that insulted the Prophet Mohammad, it is unacceptable to contradict law and order in the country," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

    "Syria is committed to the international conventions regarding the protection of foreign embassies and their staffs," it said, adding that "more protection has been placed on diplomatic missions".

    The statement also denied as "baseless" the existence of any threat targeting some states' citizens in Syria.

    Soon after the attacks which caused serious damages to the building but no casualties, the Danish and Norwegian governments urged their nationals to leave Syria immediately.

    On Sunday, scores of Danish and Norwegian citizens left Damascus by plane after being driven to the airport in buses escorted by Syrian police.

    Security measures has been stepped up on Sunday as riot police were deployed near the French and U.S. embassies.

    The cartoons were first published by the Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten, last September and republished in Norway and other European countries last month, sparking waves of protests in the Islamic world.

    Islamic teachings forbid any images of the Prophet Mohammad. Enditem