Saudi Arabia advises citizens to leave Lebanon over unrest
BEIRUT (AFP) — Saudi Arabia has advised its citizens in Lebanon to leave the country due to growing political unrest, a Lebanese government source said Saturday.
"The Lebanese government has been informed of the measure taken by the Saudi Arabian embassy which has asked its citizens to exercise caution in their movements and to leave the country if possible," he said on condition of anonymity.
A Saudi diplomatic source, contacted by AFP, confirmed the measure and said a number of Saudi families had already left.
He also disclosed that the car of a Saudi diplomat travelling with his family was hit by a bullet on Friday night in Beirut, without anyone being injured.
The incident occurred as opposition supporters fired into the air to celebrate a television interview with one of their leaders, parliament speaker Nabih Berri, the source said.
He did not specify if the car was targeted or hit by a stray bullet.
Fears of civil strife have mounted over a political crisis that has left Lebanon without a president since November and warnings of wider conflict after the February 12 killing in Syria of top Hezbollah commander Imad Mughnieh.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal warned last month that the country was "on the verge of civil war."
