13 September 2013
BEIRUT: Saudi Arabia has warned its citizens against travel to Lebanon, the Saudi national news agency (SPA) reported Thursday.
“The Foreign Ministry calls on all citizens not to travel to Lebanon for their own safety due to the current situation in the region,” SPA said.
The ministry also called on citizens living in or visiting Lebanon to contact the Saudi Embassy in Beirut to provide them with the necessary assistance.
Last week, the U.S. urged its non-emergency staff and their family members to leave Lebanon, citing security concerns.
That announcement came after U.S. President Barack Obama said he would seek congressional approval for a military strike against the regime in Syria. But Obama Tuesday urged Congress to put off the vote, vowing to explore a Russian diplomatic plan to take away Syria’s chemical arms.
Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said Wednesday that Lebanon regards as important the security of foreign embassies.
Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Lebanon Ali Asiri has recently said that his country has put in place a contingency plan for the evacuation of its nationals in Lebanon.
Copyright The Daily Star 2013.
