Two Reuters journalists missing in Syria since Saturday

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Two Reuters television journalists who were in Syria to report on protests have been missing since Saturday evening.

The pair, both Lebanese nationals, were due to return to neighbouring Lebanon on Saturday night but did not turn up to meet the taxi they had booked to pick them up from the border. According to Reuters , the two Beirut-based broadcast journalists, Ayat Basma and Ezzat Baltaji, were last heard from at 5.22pm on Saturday. They had been in Syria since Thursday.

A senior Reuters editor is to travel to Damascus for discussions with Syrian officials about the journalists' whereabouts.

"We have reached out to the relevant authorities in Syria and have asked for their help in securing our colleagues' safe return home," Reuters editor-in-chief Stephen Adler said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Syria has withdrawn the accreditation of a Reuters correspondent, saying he had filed  "unprofessional and false" coverage of events in Syria. Reuters has said it regrets the decision by Syrian officials and stands by its coverage.

"[We] are committed to continuing our accurate and impartial reporting about Syria," Adler said.

Mass protests against the regime of President Bashar Al-Assad broke out in towns in the south of Syria 10 days ago.