Philippine port operator pulls out of Syria, withdraw workers
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Buy SPH photosMANILA, Philippines (AP) - A Philippine container port operator has decided to pull out of Syria and withdrew all its Filipino workers from a key port due to increasing dangers from the country's civil war, company officials said on Wednesday.
The withdrawal of Manila-based International Container Terminal Services Inc, through its Syrian subsidiary Tartus International Container Terminal, or TICT, could effectively derail cargo services at the northwest port city of Tartus.
The Philippine company was the sole container operator in Tartus through a concession granted by Syria's Ministry of Transport, according to ICTSI Senior Vice President Hans-Ole Madsen.
Tens of thousands of people are believed to have been killed since the uprising against President Bashar Assad began in March 2011. An analysis released on Wednesday by the United Nations (UN) says at least 60,000 people have died, with scores of armed groups across the country fighting regime forces.
