DUBAI: Dubai-based airline Emirates has banned pagers and walkietalkies onboard its planes following sabotage attacks in Lebanon, and extended flight cancellations for Middle East destinations due to regional escalation.

`All Passengers travelling on flights to, from or via Dubai are prohibited from transporting pagers and walkie-talkies in checked or cabin baggage,` the carrier said, weeks after a wave of exploding communication devices used by the Iranbacked Hezbollah group, which blamed Israel for the attacks.

In a statement posted on its website, Emirates saidthat `such items found in passengers` hand luggage or checked baggage will be confiscated by Dubai Police.` The blasts last month killed at least 37 people and wounded nearly 3,000 across Lebanon.

Emirates, the Middle East`s biggest airline,also announced that its Iraq andIranrouteswillremain suspended until Tuesday.

The cancellations were first announced in the wake of a major Iranian attack on Israel this week that saw missiles flying over Iraq and Iran.

Emirates said its flights to Jordan, which were also suspended, would resume on Sunday.-AFP