U.S. Embassy in Kabul warns U.S. citizens

KABUL, Afghanistan, July 26 (UPI) -- Following mounting violence in Afghanistan, the U.S. embassy in Kabul released a warning message Tuesday.

The message warned Americans in Afghanistan: "Over the past month, there has been a surge in improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and suicide bombings in Afghanistan."

The message then listed a string of recent terrorist attacks, ending with a July 25 IED detonating on New Bagram Road.

"The U.S. Embassy also believes that insurgents are planning additional bombings throughout Afghanistan that could target American citizens, Coalition forces, and U.S. military and Government interests. The Embassy urges Americans to practice good security measures: be aware of your surroundings; vary your times and routes of travel; avoid traveling after dark; do not travel alone; avoid traffic bottlenecks; avoid crowded areas and demonstrations.

"From time to time, the U.S. Embassy places areas frequented by foreigners off-limits to its personnel depending on current security conditions. Military facilities, restaurants, hotels, Internet cafés and bazaars are all potential targets.

"Americans in Afghanistan are urged to monitor the local news and maintain contact with the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. As the Embassy continues to develop information on any potential security threats to U.S. citizens in Afghanistan, it will share them with the American community via the Warden System."

Warden messages are issued by U.S. embassies overseas to alert U.S. citizens in a country about possible security risks. This was not the first warden message to be released by the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan; other warden messages can be found on the State Department Web site. Evacuations are announced to U.S. citizens via the medium of a warden message.