European Missions in Beirut Take Precautionary Measures over Possible Syria Deterioration

Lebanon has been witnessing a notable diplomatic activity concerning the situation of European nationals in Syria, with a number of embassies in Lebanon taking precautionary measures to confront any dramatic development in the Syrian arena which might require the evacuation of foreigners from Syria into Lebanon, the Central News Agency reported Tuesday.

European diplomats have asked Lebanon to facilitate the entry of Europeans through the Lebanese-Syrian land border crossings and their departure from the Beirut Rafik Hariri International Airport to their countries, well-informed sources told the news agency.

“Some European embassies in Beirut have received warnings about possible threats to their interests and the need that they take the necessary security measures in order to fend off such threats,” the sources said.

The Syrian authorities’ repression of protests has left at least 2,059 people dead, including almost 400 members of the security forces, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime has pledged reform and blamed "armed terrorist gangs" for the almost five-month-long unrest.