23 Jun 2012

No London visa for Syrian Olympic official

5:22 am on 23 June 2012

The head of the Syrian Olympic Committee, General Mowaffak Joumaa, has been refused a visa to travel to London for the 2012 Games.

It is understood to be because of his links to President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

The decision by British government officials must be ratified by the International Olympic Committee.

Ministers had already warned that General Joumaa could have his visa refused.

General Joumaa has been invited to attend the Games by the IOC and is not on a European Union list of Syrian officials banned from travelling to the event.