The United States on Sunday issued a dire warning to its citizens abroad telling them to "limit their movement" because US military strikes underway in Afghanistan could lead to terrorist attacks against Americans and American interests.
The State Department said any US civilians now in Afghanistan should leave the country immediately and that Americans in other parts of the world should "monitor the local news, maintain contact with the nearest American embassy or consulate and to limit their movement in their respective locations."
"The US government initiated military action today pursuant to its inherent right of self-defense recognized in Article 51 of the UN Charter, after the events of September 11 in the United States," the department said in a statement.
"This action may result in strong anti-American sentiment and retaliatory actions against US citizens and interests throughout the world by terrorists and those who are sympathetic to or otherwise support terrorism," it said.
Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia has refused demands to hand over Saudi militant Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect in the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington, who lives in the country as its guest.
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said security measures at US embassies and missions abroad as well as at the department's headquarters in Washington were on high alert.
Secretary of State Colin Powell and his deputy, Richard Armitage, made numerous calls to foreign leaders to tell them of the impending military action, Boucher said.
Among those leaders called were Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov, who had opened his country's military bases to the United States, UN chief Kofi Annan, top EU diplomat Javier Solana and Sultan Qaboos, the leader of Oman, he said -- WASHINGTON (AFP)
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