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Saudis advised to avoid Lebanon | Saudis advised to avoid Lebanon |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Saudi Arabia has warned its citizens to avoid visiting Lebanon, which is experiencing a worsening security and political crisis. | |
A foreign ministry statement also urged caution to those already in Lebanon. | A foreign ministry statement also urged caution to those already in Lebanon. |
Riyadh is a key backer of Lebanon's pro-Western government. Past years have seen hundreds of thousands of Saudis visiting the country for holidays. | Riyadh is a key backer of Lebanon's pro-Western government. Past years have seen hundreds of thousands of Saudis visiting the country for holidays. |
The numbers fell sharply after a series of political assassinations and the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. | The numbers fell sharply after a series of political assassinations and the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. |
Lebanon is in the grip of political instability as the government and opposition are deadlocked over the appointment of a new president, a position vacant since November. | Lebanon is in the grip of political instability as the government and opposition are deadlocked over the appointment of a new president, a position vacant since November. |
Some members of Lebanon's pro-Syrian opposition have accused Saudi Arabia of obstructing progress towards resolving the deadlock. | Some members of Lebanon's pro-Syrian opposition have accused Saudi Arabia of obstructing progress towards resolving the deadlock. |
In the past three weeks, tension between the two sides has erupted into street clashes. | In the past three weeks, tension between the two sides has erupted into street clashes. |
The temperature was raised last week with the killing of a top Hezbollah commander in Damascus, prompting threats of a new war with Israel. | The temperature was raised last week with the killing of a top Hezbollah commander in Damascus, prompting threats of a new war with Israel. |
"The Foreign Ministry advises Saudi citizens against travelling to Lebanon in view of the political and unstable security conditions that Lebanon is going through," the statement said. | "The Foreign Ministry advises Saudi citizens against travelling to Lebanon in view of the political and unstable security conditions that Lebanon is going through," the statement said. |
Analysts said the warning might be based on intelligence or it could signal that Riyadh sees no prospect of a negotiated settlement. | Analysts said the warning might be based on intelligence or it could signal that Riyadh sees no prospect of a negotiated settlement. |
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