Turkey called on its citizens to leave Lebanon following the kidnapping on Friday of two Turkish Airlines pilots by gunmen in Beirut.
"Given the current situation it is vital that our citizens avoid all travel to Lebanon," the foreign ministry in a statement posted on its website.
"We suggest that citizens who are still in Lebanon return to Turkey if they can, or if they have to remain, to take all measures to ensure their personal safety and be vigilant," it added.
It said Ankara expected the Lebanese government to take "all necessary measures" to ensure the safety of Turkish citizens in the country.
Gunmen kidnapped the pilots in an ambush on a bus carrying members of a Turkish Airlines crew from Beirut airport to a hotel.
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