Syria imposes travel ban on citizens

News agencies have reported that Syrian men aged between 18 and 42 have been barred from travelling overseas unless they have permission from the military recruitment authorities and the immigiration department. Aliqtisadi, a Damascus-based Arabic-language news magazine reported on the ban, citing "informed sources". Another Arabic report said the ban applies to "all Syrian citizens under the age of 42". However an activist tweeted later that the ban was much more wide-ranging. The activist cited two sources who said their sisters and over-42 fathers were prevented from travelling. Lebanese officials at the Masnaa border crossing between Beirut and Damascus said the number of people leaving Syria had fallen by 60 per cent since the regulations were announced two days ago.