iloubnan - Two Reuters journalists went missing in Syria - March 28, 2011

wo Reuters television journalists have been missing in Syria since Saturday night, Reuters news agency reported on Sunday night.

"Beirut-based producer Ayat Basma and cameraman Ezzat Baltaji had been expected to cross into Lebanon by road at approximately 1830 GMT on Saturday, where they had arranged for a taxi to pick them up from the border," the agency said.

The two Lebanese journalists traveled to Syria on Thursday to cover the mass protests that erupted earlier; however, they have been unreachable by telephone since Saturday night, according to the agency.

Reuters Editor-in-Chief Stephen Adler said: "Reuters is deeply concerned about our two Reuters television colleagues who went missing in Syria on Saturday. We have reached out to the relevant authorities in Syria and have asked for their help in securing our colleagues' safe return home."

The Syrian authorities gave told Reuters that they were working on resolving the issue, and a senior Reuters editor plans to travel to Damascus to discuss the matter formally with Syrian officials.

On Friday, Syrian authorities withdrew the accreditation of Reuters text correspondent Khaled Yacoub Oweis, saying he had filed "unprofessional and false" coverage of events in Syria, the agency added.