Bahrain has so far expelled 16 Lebanese nationals over “security concerns”, according to reports.

A Lebanese Foreign Ministry official confirmed the figure to news agency AFP.

“The foreign ministry has been notified by Lebanon’s ambassador to Bahrain Aziz Azzi that the authorities there (in Bahrain) on Sunday asked six Lebanese to leave the country, after having expelled 10 Lebanese last week,” the official told the agency.

Lebanese newspaper The Daily Star quoted Azzi as saying those being deported had been given a one-week deadline to leave.

“Lebanese individuals were notified personally by the Bahraini authorities that they have a one-week deadline to leave the country,” he said.

The newspaper added those being expelled held different posts in banks and engineering firms.

Bahrain has accused Lebanon-based terrorist organisation Hizbollah of being involved in unrest in Bahrain. Gulf air and Bahrain Air have both suspended flights between Bahrain and Lebanon until the end of the month as a result.

Authorities had also prevented people in Bahrain calling Lebanon, but phone lines were functioning normally yesterday.

Police arrested five Lebanese men working in a restaurant on March 21 for suspected links to Hizbollah.

Meanwhile, Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry has warned all Bahrainis against travelling to Lebanon.

More than 5,000 Lebanese people live and work in Bahrain.-TradeArabia News Service