State Department Warns Americans Abroad to Exercise Caution

The State Department issued a warning Wednesday to U.S. citizens abroad to beware of possible anti-American violence worldwide because of recent events in the Middle East and elsewhere.

An announcement listed as reasons for caution the convictions this month of two foreigners in U.S. courts for acts of violence, guerrilla attacks in Pakistan and Egypt and “the general situation in the Middle East.”

The latter was an apparent reference to the current United Nations standoff with Iraq over arms inspections.

“In light of events unfolding throughout the world, U.S. citizens traveling or residing abroad are advised to exercise greater than usual caution,” the announcement said.

“While at this time we know of no specific threats to U.S. citizens or interests overseas . . . we cannot discount the possibility of random acts of anti-American violence, such as drive-by shootings, kidnappings or bombings,” it added.

The announcement cited the Nov. 10 conviction in Virginia of Mir Aimal Kasi of Pakistan in the 1993 slayings of two CIA officers and the Nov. 12 conviction of Ramzi Ahmed Yousef, whose nationality is unclear, for organizing the 1993 World Trade Center bombing in New York.

The announcement also mentioned last week’s slaying of four U.S. businessmen and their Pakistani driver in Karachi, Pakistan, and Monday’s massacre in Luxor, Egypt, in which 58 tourists--none Americans--were killed in an attack claimed by Gamaa al Islamiya, a militant Islamic faction.

The announcement advised U.S. citizens planning to travel abroad to consult State Department advisories on security awareness, and those already overseas to contact the nearest U.S. diplomatic mission for security information.