Russia warns citizens not to travel to Syria

Russian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday advised its citizens not to visit Syria following the abduction of two Russians in the country. According to the ministry, the two Russian citizens, one of them also a holder of Syrian passport, and an Italian, were kidnapped late Monday from their car on the Tartus-Homs highway in western Syria. The three worked for a local steel plant near Homs, the third largest city in Syria. The kidnappers called their employer demanding a ransom, the ministry said. "The Russian Embassy in Syria immediately started to undertake necessary steps together with the Syrian side for the release of the abducted citizens at an early date. These energetic attempts in Damascus and other capitals will be continued," the ministry said in an online comment. Earlier Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who was visiting Uzbekistan, said Moscow was working with everyone capable of facilitating the release of the three hostages.