US and UK Urge Citizens to Leave Yemen

AL JAZEERA: Both countries call on citizens to leave Gulf Arab nation immediately, as reported drone strike kills several in Yemen.

The United States evacuated dozens of its personnel from the Yemeni capital, after both the US and United Kingdom told their citizens to leave due to the threat of "terrorist attacks."

The US citizens were flown out of the country on military aircraft; a Pentagon spokesman did not say how many people were evacuated.

The new US measures, announced in a statement on Tuesday, followed a heightened security warning from Washington on Friday that prompted the closure of several Western embassies in Yemen and several US missions across the Middle East and Africa.

It also came after at least four suspected al-Qaeda members were killed in what local tribal leaders said was a US drone strike in central Yemen early on Tuesday.

"The Department urges US citizens to defer travel to Yemen and those US citizens currently living in Yemen to depart immediately," the statement posted on its website said.

The UK's foreign office, meanwhile, advised against all travel to Yemen, and "strongly urge[d] British nationals to leave now". It said that all British embassy staff had been temporarily withdrawn from the country. The UN's refugee agency also boosted security, though it did not withdraw its personnel. » | Source: Al Jazeera and agencies | Tuesday, August 06, 2013

9/11 Anniversary: US Issues Worldwide Travel Alert to Americans
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A worldwide travel alert ahead of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks has been issued by the US State Department, calling on Americans living and travelling abroad to remain vigilant.

The department said it had not identified any "specific threats" about possible attacks but that al-Qaeda and its affiliates had "demonstrated the intent and capability to carry out attacks" against the US and US interests.

"In the past, terrorist organisations have on occasion planned their attacks to coincide with significant dates on the calendar," the State Department said.

The alert expires on January 2, 2012, it said.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said there was "no specific or credible intelligence that al-Qaeda or its affiliates are plotting attacks" linked to the anniversary of the worst terror strikes on US soil.

But she added: "We remain at a heightened state of vigilance, and security measures are in place to detect and prevent plots against the United States should they emerge." » | Friday, September 02, 2011

Foreign Office Travel Advisory – Yemen Protests: Britons Urged to Leave Country
THE GUARDIAN: Foreign Office says people should get out of Yemen while commercial airlines are still flying

All British nationals have been urged to leave Yemen in the run-up to protests planned for Friday which could result in violent clashes.

The Foreign Office said that, "in light of the rapid deterioration in the security situation", people should get out while commercial airlines were still flying.

It said it was highly unlikely that it would be able to evacuate British nationals in the event of increased disorder.

A statement read: "In light of the rapid deterioration in the security situation in Yemen and likely protests on Friday 1 April which might result in violent clashes, we strongly urge all British nationals to leave the country now while commercial airlines are still flying. » | Press Association | Friday, April 01, 2011

UK's FCO Advises Britons to 'Leave Bahrain Today'
BBC: The UK Foreign Office (FCO) has urged Britons to leave Bahrain on Thursday, as violence and protests continue.

The government has organised charter flights to Dubai, to supplement the number of commercial flights available.

The FCO advised UK nationals without a "pressing reason" to stay to leave via the international airport on 17 March on commercial or UK-chartered flights.

Security forces with tanks have moved in on anti-government protesters, in the Gulf state's capital Manama.

The protesters have been camped in a square in the city for weeks.

Foreign Secretary William Hague has spoken to his Bahraini counterpart to express "serious concern" at the situation on the ground.

At least three civilians were reportedly killed after police fired on mainly Shia protesters. Officials said three police also died.

Troops have taken over a hospital treating the wounded. Officials have imposed a curfew and banned protests.

The country's Sunni rulers on Tuesday called in Saudi troops to keep order.

Bahrain's health minister, himself a Shia, has resigned in protest against the government's use of force, and the BBC's Caroline Hawley in Manama says Shia judges have resigned en masse. » | Thursday, March 17, 2011

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Government tells Britons to flee Bahrain: Britain will send charter planes to help its citizens leave Bahrain as soon as possible, officials said on Wednesday, with an uprising and deadly clashes surging in the kingdom. » | Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Yemen: Foreign Office Travel Advice Tightened
BBC: The Foreign Office is warning Britons against all travel to the Middle Eastern state of Yemen.

Officials say the advice has been reviewed and reissued because of increasing violence in the country.

UK nationals already in Yemen without a pressing need to stay are advised to leave by commercial means.

There have been protests against the government in several cities, and there are reports of clashes between police and demonstrators.

The Foreign Office says there are reports of violence being used to disperse crowds, and of a number of deaths.

Further protests are expected, say officials, and violence is likely. >>> | Saturday, March 05, 2011

Westerners Warned over Travel to Indonesia ahead of Bali Executions
THE TELEGRAPH: British, Australian and US citizens have been warned about travelling to Indonesia as the country prepares to execute three men responsible for the 2002 Bali bombings.

Amid fears of revenge attacks, Australia has advised its citizens against all travel to the south-east Asian country.

In London, the Foreign Office said that British citizens should exercise caution and be villigent for political protests or any sign of violence.

The United States warned its citizens to "maintain a low profile".

The three men, Imam Samudra, 38, Mukhlas, 48, and Amrozi, 46, are to be executed by firing squad imminently. They were convicted and sentenced in 2003 for their role in planning the co-ordinated suicide car bombings which killed 202 people, including 88 Australians and 28 British holidaymakers.

The three men were members of a regional Islamist terror group loosely allied to al-Qaeda. They have shown no remorse for their crime and regard themselves as martyrs.

They have exhausted all their appeals and all the signs are that the executions are imminent after the execution order was brought forward. >>> By Thomas Bell, South East Asia Correspondent | November 3, 2008

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