Bahrain has asked its envoy to Syria to provide all the necessary assistance to its citizens living in the war-torn country, said a senior government official.

"The embassy is constantly monitoring their situation and is keeping itself abreast of the developments," said Foreign Ministry Regional and GCC Affairs under-secretary Hamad Al Amer.

"There are no reports of any Bahrainis facing any problems so far. There are not many in Syria so we do not have an issue and we will take care as and when a situation develops."

He added that the few Bahrainis living there were safe and had been in constant contact with the Bahrain Embassy in Damascus.

It is understood a few university students live in Damascus and some Bahrainis had been staying with relatives there.

Al Amer said ministry officials had asked Bahrain Ambassador to Syria Abdulrahman Al Sulaiti to constantly monitor the situation.

An embassy official said all Bahrainis living in Syria were "safe" and confirmed there was "no problem with Bahrainis".

It comes as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov travelled to Syria yesterday to meet with President Bashar Al Assad in a bid to defuse the crisis in the country, as hundreds of people were killed in violent clashes and bombings in several places across the country.

Syria has faced nearly a year of protests against President Assad's 12-year rule, inspired by Arab revolts, which overthrew leaders in Egypt and Tunisia last year.

Syrian authorities say armed groups have killed nearly 1,000 soldiers and police since the uprising erupted last March and rights groups say nearly 3,000 civilians had been killed.

Bahraini citizens in Syria should contact the embassy on +963 116132314 or +963 116132315 for any assistance. – TradeArabia News Service