Three Dutch opposition parties - Labour, the Socialist Party and the D66 democrats - will make clear to Shell Netherlands Director Dick Benschop on Tuesday that the Anglo-Dutch oil company should end its operations in Syria, where the regime is engaged in a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.

D66 leader Alexander Pechtold, who took the initiative for the meeting, has called on Shell to show that the company is willing to engage in socially responsible business practices.

The Labour Party also wants Shell to end its activities in Syria, but would prefer this to happen within the framework of EU sanctions.

(gsh/tf)

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