By Emma Sword
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has advised against travel to Syria after weeks of unrest in the Middle Eastern country.
The move comes after the death of more than 170 protesters since violence erupted.
Those who were intending to travel to the country should check with their travel insurance provider as failure to heed FCO advice can invalidate your cover.
Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt confirmed the government department was advising against non-essential travel to Syria.
"In light of the deteriorating security situation in Syria we have decided to change the overall level of our travel advice," he said.
"We now advise against all but essential travel to Syria. This will take immediate effect.
"The safety of British nationals is always our primary concern.
"We recommend those in Syria exercise caution and maintain a high level of security awareness, particularly in public places and on the roads, and avoid large crowds and demonstrations."
International pressure is mounting on Syria's president, Bashar Assad, with key European governments and the United Nations denouncing a deadly crackdown that has failed to quell a popular uprising.
In the latest violence, security forces killed a student during a protest at Damascus University in the capital.
There were conflicting reports about whether the student was shot or beaten to death.
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