Germany calls Austrian Golan pullout "regrettable"

Germany on Friday called an Austrian decision to withdraw from a UN monitoring force in the Golan Heights "regrettable" but said it reflected how "dangerous" the Middle East had become.

"We followed the announcement very closely -- it is of course regrettable but we can see in Berlin how the conclusion was drawn," a foreign ministry spokesman told a regular media briefing.

"At the same time the decision shows that the situation in the region is very dangerous -- it is an indication how the situation in the whole region has escalated and how great the danger of a conflagration is."

Austria said Thursday it would withdraw peacekeepers from the UN force, citing deteriorating security after new clashes between Syrian troops and rebels in the Golan.