Saudi Arabia was recalling its ambassador to Syria for consultations, the Saudi king said on Sunday in a statement broadcasted by the pan-Arab Al-Arabiya Television.

"What is happening in Syria is not acceptable for Saudi Arabia, " the king said in the statement read out by the TV, meanwhile urging the Syrian government to carry out comprehensive and quick reforms.

Either Syria chooses reason or it will be pulled down into deep chaos, he said.

Syria has been gripped by unrest for nearly five months, which activists said claimed the lives of more than 1,700 civilians, however the government disputes the toll, blaming the unrest on armed groups and extremists and pledging that there would be no letup in its crackdown on those gunmen to restore stability and security to the country.