News Watch

The Department of State reported that in the last few months of 2009, Al Qaeda released videos threatening to conduct terrorist attacks against German interests. While these threats initially mentioned the federal elections in September, Al Qaeda continues to threaten Germany.

The Department of State points out that political violence remains a problem in Nepal. Protestors have used violence, including forcibly closing businesses, damaging vehicles, throwing rocks and burning tires to block traffic. Avoid areas where crowds are forming, avoid road travel and maintain a low profile. Curfews can be announced with little notice. 

Armed groups continue to engage in extortion, abuse and threats of violence, particularly in rural areas and in the Terai, along the...

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On May 19, 2009, after more than 25 years of conflict, the Sri Lankan government defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. While no LTTE incidents have occurred since, armed checkpoints remain. In the north are many Internally Displaced Persons camps which the government is working to empty.

The Department of State warns of the risks of travel in the northernmost areas and most of its Eastern Province, as there are uncleared...

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As ITN went to press, the State Department had travel warnings on 29 destinations: Chad, Mali, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Algeria, Colombia, Guinea, Lebanon, Côte d’Ivoire, Philippines, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Central African Republic, Israel/West Bank/Gaza, Kenya, Afghanistan, Burundi, Nigeria, Haiti, Iran, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Georgia, Sudan, Syria and Somalia.

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

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Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq have seen a marked increase in the number of terrorist bombings on government and civilian targets. In October 2009 there were more than 19 separate attacks in the three countries, with more than 500 casualties. 

In Kabul, AFGHANISTAN, bombs blew up at the Embassy of India and at a UN staff hostel. The luxury Serena Hotel was attacked, but the rocket failed and caused no damage; in January 2008 this hotel, with a largely international clientele, was...

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The Department of State warns against travel to Guinea, as the political situation there remains highly volatile. Although Guinea has been relatively calm since Oct. 5, the potential for violence remains high. 

On Sept. 28, Guinean security forces opened fire on peaceful, pro-democracy demonstrators who had gathered in the national stadium in Conakry to protest plans by military leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, who seized power in a December 2008 coup, to run for president after he...

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The US Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia, issued a notice of a recent increase of attacks on foreigners.

In September an Australian was attacked by two youths in a public restroom at the Kalemegdan fortress; two Frenchmen were attacked (one later died) by soccer “hooligans” at an expat restaurant, and a British citizen caught in crossfire between two rival narcotics gangs was shot outside a nightclub.

The Department of State continues to warn against all travel to Lebanon, stating that, while Lebanon enjoys periods of relative calm, the potential for a spontaneous upsurge in violence is real. 

The threat of anti-Western terrorist activity continues. Public demonstrations occur frequently. Rocket attacks from southern Lebanon into Israel continue to occur, most recently on Sept. 11, 2009. These attacks frequently provoke a military response from Israel.

Land mines and...

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