U.S. issues travel warning for Iraq

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department cited insurgent activity, terrorist violence and fighting with Kurdish militants as reason for issuing a travel warning for Iraq.

The State Department announced Tuesday it was warning all U.S. citizens in Iraq against all but essential travel throughout the country "given the dangerous security situation."

"The U.S. government considers the potential threat to U.S. government personnel in Iraq to be serious enough to require them to live and work under strict security guidelines," the warning added.

The warning notes that while parts of the country, particularly Iraq's northern Kurdish region, were relatively calm, security in the central provinces was volatile. Nevertheless, U.S. government personnel need an armed escort when traveling outside secure facilities in the Kurdish areas.

Turkish and Iranian military action against Kurdish militants makes traveling near the shared border areas risky, the State Department added.

Though Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has authority to negotiate some form of extension, all U.S. forces under the terms of a bilateral security agreement with Baghdad are required to leave the country by Dec. 31.

The Voices of Iraq news agency reports that at least 25 Shiite pilgrims were killed as they passed through a phony security checkpoint in Anbar province Monday.