Six Ukrainians evacuated from Syria

Kiev, May 23 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Six Ukrainian nationals have been evacuated from Syria and have returned to Kiev, the Ukrainian foreign ministry said.

"These individuals were evacuated via Lebanese territory, and subsequently flown to Ukraine on a regular Beirut-Kiev flight," the ministry said in a statement.

Ukraine has evacuated more than 500 of its citizens from Syria since last July.

Syria has been locked in a civil war since demonstrations broke out against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad in March 2011. According to UN estimates, about 80,000 people have been killed in the conflict.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

pm/