Cancel trips to Syria, Foreign Office warns

Britons were warned by the Foreign Office to cancel all non-essential trips to Syria yesterday.

Those already in Syria were warned to be vigilant because of increasing regional tension. The "voluntary departure" has been authorised of all non-essential diplomatic staff and their dependants. There have been no recent terrorist attacks in Syria but a number of terrorist organisations are believed to operate from the capital, Damascus.

The warning on the Foreign Office website reads: "Because of the increasing regional tension, we advise you not to make any non-essential travel, including holiday travel (but excluding airline passengers in transit, provided they do not break their journey), to Syria, and, if already in Syria, to maintain a high level of vigilance and to consider whether your presence and that of your dependants is essential."

Last month, the Foreign Office upgraded its travel warnings on the Middle East, advising Britons in Iraq to leave and warning against travelling to Kuwait, Israel and the Palestinian territories.