BEIRUT: Ankara has issued a travel
warning advising citizens against all non-essential travel to Lebanon after a
second Turkish man was kidnapped Friday.
“In light of these developments, our
citizens should refrain from traveling to Lebanon unless it’s mandatory. It’s
highly important for our citizens who are currently in Lebanon to take every
necessary measure for their security and to be vigilant,” the Foreign Ministry
said in a written statement late Friday evening, according to local newspapers.
"The situation in [Lebanon] is
entering a course that threatens the security of our citizens ... our citizens
should avoid travels to Lebanon unless absolutely necessary,” the statement
added.
Turkish businessman Aydin Tufan was
kidnapped upon arrival to Rafik Hariri International Airport Wednesday by the
Meqdad clan, who also abducted over 20 Syrians, in retaliation for the
abduction of one of their members, Hassan Meqdad, in Damascus.
Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates
and Qatar have urged their citizens to leave Lebanon, and almost all Kuwaiti
nationals were evacuated Friday, according to the ambassador.
Another Turkish citizen,
Abdel-Baseet Orsolan, was kidnapped at dawn on Friday, but the Meqdad family
has denied involvement in this second abduction.
Security sources have told The Daily
Star that Orsolan was forcibly removed from his Mercedes-Benz truck near the
Coca Cola company in Shoueifat and that police have launched an investigation.
Speaking to the Anatolia news
agency, Tekin called on Turkish authorities to help secure his release but said
that he is in good health and that the Meqdad clan is taking good care of him.
“The best way to solve the problem
is good contact with the authorities in a diplomatic way. I have been seeking
assistance from the Turkish government,” said Tekin, according to the Hurriyet
newspaper.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul said
Friday that “Lebanese officials are doing all they can so that our abducted
citizen in Lebanon gets released,” after having spoken to Lebanese Prime
Minister Najib Mikati and Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour at an Organisation of Islamic
Cooperation summit in Mecca a day previously.
"I think they are doing what they can do.
God willing we will rescue him safe and sound," he said in comments
broadcast on Turkish television.http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/Aug-18/185023-turkey-advises-against-all-non-essential-travel-to-lebanon-after-2nd-kidnapping.ashx#axzz245GhTCxA
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