Turkey Advises Nationals Not to Travel to Lebanon

Turkey advised its nationals on Friday to avoid non-essential travel to Lebanon after mass kidnappings which included two Turkish citizens, the foreign ministry said.

"It is deemed beneficial if our citizens avoid traveling to Lebanon unless absolutely necessary," said the ministry in a statement.

The warning came after more than 20 Syrians and one Turk were taken hostage in Lebanon on Wednesday and another Turkish national on Thursday, according to the ministry.

Ankara said it was continuing efforts at multilateral level for the release of the two kidnapped citizens, according to the ministry statement.

On Friday, Turkish President Abdullah Gul said the Turk who was kidnapped Wednesday was a representative of a Turkish company doing business in Lebanon and that he had nothing to do with politics.

Speaking to reporters, Gul said he had met with Prime Minister Najib Miqati and Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour in Mecca on Thursday and demanded the immediate release of all those kidnapped.

Gul noted that the release of the Turkish businessman would "contribute to Turkish-Lebanese relations."

Lebanon has been grappling with heightened security fears after the spate of kidnappings that came in retaliation for the abduction of Lebanese citizens in Syria.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE and Bahrain have ordered their nationals to leave the country immediately in the face of threats, particularly against Saudis and Qataris.

The United States also warned Friday that its nationals face increased threats to their security in Lebanon, including the possibility of targeted kidnappings or “terrorist attacks.”

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Beirut sought to relieve tensions on Friday, saying it would aid al-Meqdad clan in the search for their family member.

But the powerful clan threatened retaliation if any harm came to the young man, striking out at Turkey, which has been one of the main regional powers denouncing the Assad regime.

"We have our group of Free Syrian Army hostages and don't intend to take any more. But if our relative Hassan is killed in Syria, the first to be executed will be the Turk," warned spokesman Maher al-Meqdad.