US renews warning to citizens against all travel to Sudan

WASHINGTON, June 30 (AFP) — The United States on Wednesday warned American citizens against all travel to Sudan, where it said they could face terrorist attacks.

Renewing a travel warning issued in November last year, the US State Department said going to the troubled nation was not safe even though negotiations were underway to end a civil war there.

The warning was issued after US Secretary of State Colin Powell and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan left Sudan Wednesday following a whirlwind tour to press for greater action to ease a humanitarian crisis caused by the war.

“Although the two parties to the long-running civil war are negotiating a peace accord to end the war, travel in the south is still dangerous,” the department said in a statement.

It cited serious fighting in the strife-torn western Darfur region and the humanitarian crisis brought on by the clashes, drought and famine.

Pro-government Arab militias have been blamed for a wave of killings of indigenous groups in Darfur since rebels rose up in February 2003.

“The US government has received indications of terrorist threats aimed at American and Western interests in Sudan,” the statement said.

Such threats could include suicide operations, bombings, or kidnappings, it added.

The department also cited demonstrations in Sudan’s capital Khartoum against United States foreign policy.

“In some instances, demonstrators have thrown rocks at the US Embassy and Westerners,” it said. “Americans should avoid large crowds and demonstrations.”