Ankara, Dec 22 (AP) Turkish authorities have arrested an American diplomat working for the US Consulate in Lebanon for allegedly providing a fake passport to a Syrian national, Turkey's state-run news agency reported on Wednesday.

The Anadolu Agency said the suspect, identified by his initials DJK, was detained at Istanbul Airport on Nov 11, and was later formally arrested on suspicion of selling the forged passport to the Syrian national for $10,000.

Also Read | Japanese Space Tourist Yusaku Maezawa Says He Would Love Longer Flight to International Space Station.

Anadolu said the Syrian was detained for questioning after he attempted to travel to Germany on the false passport, which was in DJK's name.

Police later determined through an examination of security camera footage, that DJK gave him the passport at the airport and the two also exchanged clothes. Police also seized an envelope containing $10,000 from the diplomat, the report said.

Also Read | Taliban Ban Use of Women’s Photos in Advertisements in Kabul.

The American was jailed while the Syrian was released pending possible proceedings for falsifying documents, Anadolu reported.

The US Embassy in Ankara would not comment on the report. There was also no immediate comment from the US Embassy in Beirut. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)