DAMASCUS -- Syria on Sunday banned the import of diesel vehicles in a move to reduce air pollution, DPA reported.

The decision was made by Economy and Foreign Trade Minister Ghassan al-Rifai in line with government concerns for the environment, the official Syrian Arab news agency SANA reported.

The ban will affect minibuses with a capacity of 9 to 25 passengers and diesel-operated vehicles with a net weight of less than four tons.

Exempt from the ban are diesel-run vehicles already operating in the country and import licenses issued before the decision was announced, SANA reported.

In neighboring Lebanon, a ban on diesel-operated minibuses took effect last month, and the Lebanese government in June also banned the use of diesel-powered cabs in order to reduce air pollution.