The embassy of Saudi Arabia in Beirut has taken precautionary security measures three days ago in light of the threats that the Saudi ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri has received lately, An Nahar daily reported on Saturday.
The security measures were taken ahead of an incident that took place at the offices of the Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat when a group of young men stormed its Beirut offices in protest at a cartoon deemed insulting to Lebanon, added the daily.
Asharq al-Awsat assured that it will keep its offices open in Beirut and held the Lebanese authorities responsible for preserving the safety of its employees at its offices.
The security measures around the Saudi Embassy were also taken before the Saudi owned al-Arabiya television news channel said on Friday that it has shut down its office in Beirut citing security reasons.