U.S. issues travel warning for Eritrea

WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) — The U.S. State Department said it was advising against traveling in Eritrea following reports of arbitrary detentions and moderate terrorist risks.

The State Department, in a travel warning, said several U.S.-Eritrean citizens were arrested and held for extended periods without being informed of the reason for their incarceration.

The warning stated that prison conditions in the country are “harsh” and those in detention are usually held without access to a lavatories, food, clean water or bedding. The government also doesn’t inform Washington when U.S. citizens and dual nationals are arrested.

Four crew members of a British ship trying to refuel in the area in December are still being held in detention by Eritrean authorities, the warning added.

U.S. citizens who may travel to the region should be aware of the political tensions between the Eritrean and Ethiopian governments. Troops from both countries are amassed along the border.

The State Department said it wasn’t aware of any specific threats against U.S. citizens in Eritrea, the terrorist threat from Somalia’s al-Qaida affiliate al-Shabaab looms over the region.

The State Department warned that it couldn’t provide emergency assistance outside the capital Asmara.

Posted by farajat on Mar 4 2011 Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry