The U.S. is expelling the top Syrian diplomat in Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.

Syrian Charge d’Affairs Zouheir Jabbour was given 72 hours to leave the country, Nuland said today in an e-mailed statement.

“We hold the Syrian government responsible for this slaughter of innocent lives,” Nuland said, referring to a massacre in Houla.

To contact the reporter on this story: Nicole Gaouette in Washington at ngaouette@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Terry Atlas at tatlas@bloomberg.net