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Lebanese soldiers take position in Tripoli's Sunni neighbourhood of Bab Al Tabbaneh in this May 17, 2012 file photo. Fresh sectarian clashes have erupted in Tripoli recently. Image Credit: AFP

Manama: Kuwait on Monday told its citizens to avoid travelling to Lebanon, citing the mounting tension in the country.

Kuwaitis already in Lebanon should leave immediately, or in case of special conditions contact the embassy in Beirut, the foreign affairs ministry said.

Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE on Sunday issued a Lebanon travel warning and urged their citizens to leave or stay away from the country until the security situation improved.

The decision by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries was seen in Lebanon as an ominous indication of an impending economic catastrophe with dire consequences for the country where tourism, mainly by Gulf citizens, was one of the major sectors to generate cash and jobs.