WordBulletin

World Bulletin / News Desk

Turkey has issued a warning asking its citizens to refrain from travelling to Lebanon in coming days due to the latest abduction of two Turkish nationals in this country.

Releasing a written statement on Friday, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Lebanon was no more a secure place for Turks following the abduction of a Turkish citizen together with a number of foreigners on August 15, and the kidnapping of another citizen on August 16.

"Our talks and efforts are underway for the immediate release of our citizens," the ministry said.

"On the other hand, we call on our citizens to refrain from travelling to Lebanon, unless obligatory, in the light of latest developments," the ministry noted.

The statement also urged Turks already in Lebanon to take the necessary precautions and follow the warnings and announcements to be released by the Turkish Foreign Ministry and Turkish Embassy in Beirut.

A Turkish national, identified as Aydin Tufan Tekin, was abducted on Wednesday by armed men affiliated with a powerful tribe in Lebanon. Lebanese Miqdad tribe has said it kidnapped more than 20 people including Syrian opposition members and fighters with the Free Syrian Army in retaliation to the arrest of one of their tribesmen by the FSA inside Syria.

On Thursday, there were reports that a Turkish lorry driver was kidnapped by unidentified assailants in Beirut.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar told their citizens to leave Lebanon after Wednesday's kidnappings and threats to seize more citizens of countries that have backed the uprising against Syria's President Bashar al-Assad.