THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait have urged their citizens to leave Lebanon owing to fears the Syrian conflict is spilling over the border.
The warning by the four Arab states comes after a series of kidnappings of Sunni Muslims by Shias.
On Wednesday, rioters blocked the road to Beirut airport, as dozens ofSyrians were kidnapped and their shops vandalised in violence that triggered orders from Gulf nations for citizens to leave Lebanon immediately.
Rioters set fire to tyres on the road, while an Air France flight was diverted to Damascus for refuelling before flying on to Larnaca in Cyprus because of the insecurity, apparently triggered by unconfirmed reports over the fate of Lebanese pilgrims kidnapped in Syria in May.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation also formally suspended Syria’s membership in protest at the ongoing violence. » | Thursday, August 16, 2012
