Lebanon says Syrians who return will lose refugee status

Lebanese protesters join Syrian refugees opposing Syria's President Bashar al-Assad as they hold flags and chant slogans during a demonstration against the participation of the Syrian refugees in the Syrian election in Lebanon, after their Friday prayers in Tripoli, northern Lebanon May 30, 2014. REUTERS/Omar Ibrahim

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon has told more than a million Syrian refugees they will lose their refugee status if they cross back into Syria, a move likely to discourage many from voting at polling stations on the border in Tuesday's presidential election.

Tens of thousands of Syrians voted at their Beirut embassy in an early round of expatriate voting last week and Syrian officials said those who were unable to get to the embassy should go to polling stations on the border for the June 3 poll.