Two US journalists missing

The pair, who work in Jordan, were on holiday in Lebanon and were reportedly heading to Byblos and Tripoli and planned to cross into Syria.

Two young US journalists have gone missing in Lebanon for the past week after checking out of their hotel, Lebanese security officials said. "Since October 1, we have lost trace of Taylor Luck and Holli Chmela," one Lebanese official said, requesting anonymity. The US embassy said the two had not been heard from since they reportedly left Beirut headed for Byblos and Tripoli in northern Lebanon, from where they planned to cross into Syria before returning to Jordan. The Lebanese official said the pair arrived in Lebanon on Sept 29 and checked out of their Beirut hotel the following day. Someone withdrew money with Mr Luck's credit card from an ATM machine in Beirut on Oct 1, he said. He said the US embassy in Lebanon notified police on Tuesday that Mr Luck, 23, and Ms Chmela, 27, had gone missing. Both have not been reachable on their mobile phones, he added. "The families ... are asking for the public's assistance in providing information on the possible whereabouts of the two US citizens," the embassy said in a statement posted on its website. "The US embassy is working with the Lebanese Internal Security Force (ISF) and the Surete Generale (security services) to pursue further leads in this investigation. "In addition, the US embassy in Beirut is coordinating efforts with the US embassies in Amman and Damascus as well as with the Department of State in Washington," it said. Reporters at the Jordan Times newspaper said that Mr Luck was a staff member and Ms Chmela, whose Facebook page links her to the New York Times, had just completed an internship there. The US embassy last month warned its citizens in Lebanon of possible acts of violence against Americans. * AFP