The US government on Thursday renewed a warning against travel to Iran, saying anti-US hostility had increased the threat of kidnapping.
But a State Department official said the warning was not linked to growing controversy over the past of Iran’s President-elect, Mahmood Ahmadinejad, who has been accused of taking part in the 1979 hostage taking at the US embassy in Tehran.
“Due to ongoing tensions, particularly along the border with Iraq, US citizens may be at risk of harassment or kidnapping,” said the State Department warning.
“Tensions generated by the current situation in Iraq have increased the potential threat to US citizens and interests abroad posed by those who oppose US policy.
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UK renews travel warning on the Philippines
SAYING terrorists are in the "final stages of planning an attack in the Philippines," the United Kingdom has renewed its travel warning to its citizens.
''There continues to be threats against Western interests and there is a danger of collateral damage from terrorist attacks targeted at others. We believe that terrorists are in the final stages of planning an attack,'' the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office said on Wednesday.
The US has also updated its advisory, saying that reprisals by the Abu Sayyaf Muslim militant group are possible.
British citizens are being discouraged from traveling to
The US government renewed a warning against travel to Iran, saying anti-US hostility had increased the threat of kidnapping.
But a State Department official said the warning was not linked to growing controversy over the past of Iran’s president-elect, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has been accused of taking part in the 1979 hostage-taking at the US embassy in Tehran, according to Iran Daily.
“Due to ongoing tensions, particularly along the border with Iraq, US citizens may be at risk of harassment or kidnapping,“ said the State Department warning.
“Tensions generated by the current situation in Iraq have increased the potential threat to US citizens
Iran has called on its European negotiating partners to resume talks over its controversial nuclear activity and reiterated its warning that it may reduce its cooperation with the UN nuclear agency if it is referred to the Security Council for sanctions.
A Foreign Ministry statement read on state television yesterday said Iran was "ready to accept constructive and effective proposals" on its nuclear programmes.
The statement comes two days after the International Atomic Energy Agency passed a resolution that put Iran on the verge of referral to the UN Security Council unless Tehran eases suspicions about its nuclear activities.
US renews travel warning to Pak
The US has renewed its travel warning to Pakistan urging Americans not to undertake nonessential travel in that country.
The travel warning has been renewed in view of the "ongoing security concerns" about possible terror attacks.
"This travel warning is being reissued to remind U.S. citizens of ongoing security concerns in Pakistan... Due to on-going concerns about the possibility of terrorist activity directed against American citizens and interests, the Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens to defer non-essential travel to Pakistan," a Department advisory yesterday said.
"The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and the consulates
Britain has reiterated its advisory against travel to Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of yesterday's car bomb explosion at Pulwama in South Kashmir, in which 21 people were killed and over 120 injured.
"The UK already strongly advises against all travel to Jammu and Kashmir (with the exceptions of Ladakh via Manali or air to Leh) due to ongoing militant violence. I reiterate that advice today," a British high commission release quoted Dr Kim Howells, UK Foreign Office Minister responsible for South Asia, as saying.
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