News Watch

The Department of State continues to caution against traveling to Burundi.

Burundi was plagued by a civil war from 1993 to 2006 that often involved nongovernment, noncombatant targets. In September 2006, the government and the last remaining holdout rebel group from the peace process, the Palipehutu-FNL, signed a cease-fire agreement, but many of the cease-fire provisions have not been implemented and the rebels still retain the capability to conduct indirect fire attacks on the...

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As ITN went to press, the State Department had travel warnings on 28 destinations: Burundi, Lebanon, Syria, Haiti, Yemen, Eritrea, Algeria, Chad, Central African Republic, Kenya, Israel/West Bank/Gaza, Sudan, Nepal, Timor-Leste, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Côte d’Ivoire, Somalia, Nigeria, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Pakistan and Iraq.

For details, call the State Department at 202/647-5225 or visit http://travel.state....

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On March 14, 2008, violence erupted following peaceful demonstrations in the city of Lhasa, capital of China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. Scattered violence continued in Lhasa, and protests, some of them resulting in violence, were reported in parts of Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai and Yunnan provinces.

At press time, there was a significantly increased security presence in many Tibetan areas of China, including Tibetan communities outside of the Tibetan Autonomous Region. Chinese authorities...

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In Kenya, threats of political demonstrations and violence have dramatically receded following the widely accepted power-sharing agreement signed on Feb. 28, 2008, and ratified by parliament on March 18. The U.S. Department of State has rescinded the authorized departure order for Kisumu and environs, and U.S. government personnel and families are able to return there.

Kenya has a high rate of violent crime and remains potentially susceptible to attacks from terrorists in the region....

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The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to remain mindful of security factors when considering travel to Israel at this time. It urges deferring travel to the West Bank and avoiding all travel to the Gaza Strip.

In recent months, extremist factions in the Gaza Strip have specifically targeted Palestinian Christian groups. Militants there have abducted Western citizens. The American International School in northern Gaza was the target of an attack on April 21, 2007, and again on...

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The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to consider deferring nonessential travel to Yemen at this time, due to the possibility of attacks by extremists against U.S. citizens, businesses and perceived interests.

Several explosions targeted the embassy compound in Sanaa on March 18, 2008, injuring several Yemeni citizens, including government security personnel and schoolchildren. Embassy employees have been advised to avoid hotels, restaurants and tourist areas.

 

The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens against all travel to Sudan, particularly in the Darfur area, where violence between government forces and various armed militias continues. Westerners have been victims of carjacking and armed robbery while traveling in Sudan.

On Jan. 1, 2008, an official with the American Embassy and his Sudanese driver were shot and killed in their vehicle while returning to the official’s residence. The U.S. government has received...

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Travelers in the Central African Republic (CAR) should exercise extreme caution, especially outside the capital city of Bangui. Armed rebel groups, bandits and poachers present real dangers.

The U.S. Department of State advises avoiding travel to northwestern and northern CAR, particularly the areas bordering Chad, due to insecurity caused by banditry and clashes between government and rebel forces.

In addition, the embassy recommends that Americans traveling outside the...

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