U.S. accuses Syria of contempt for human rights

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Wednesday criticized the arrest of ailing Syrian dissident Riad Seif and said it showed a contempt for human rights by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

White House spokesman Tony Fratto called the arrest "an escalation of a long series of Syrian efforts to deny its citizens the internationally recognized rights of freedom of expression and association."

"Through acts such as this, Syrian President al-Assad has made clear his contempt for the most basic rights of the Syrian people," Fratto said in a statement.

Seif, who is sick with cancer, was arrested on Monday and charged with undermining the state.

Similar charges that carry long sentences were leveled this week against 10 members of the Damascus Declaration dissident group who attended a meeting at Seif's house to coordinate opposition against Assad.

The White House statement urged Syria's government to immediately release all political prisoners.

Syria has been ruled by the Baath Party since it took power in a coup in 1963 and banned all opposition. The authorities have renewed a campaign against dissidents in recent months.

(Reporting by Caren Bohan; editing by Mohammad Zargham)