WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department issued a travel warning for Sudan because of the critical threat of terrorist attacks targeting Western interests in Darfur.
The State Department warned U.S citizens to avoid traveling to Darfur or the Sudanese states of Blue Nile and South Kordofan.
The warning said that although the government in Khartoum has taken steps to control the violence, armed groups in the region have threatened to attack Western interests. The State Department said the threat level in Sudan, particularly in Darfur, "remains critical."
"In addition, Janjaweed militia and heavily armed Darfuri rebel groups are known to have carried out criminal attacks against foreigners," the warning read.
The U.N.-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur said the security situation in the region was deteriorating. A series of shootings left several people dead and an attempt was made on the life of a local administrator, the mission said.
Aichatou Mindaoudou, acting joint special envoy for the peacekeeping mission, said it was unfortunate that civilians were suffering as a result of the escalating violence in Darfur.
"UNAMID calls for a cessation in hostilities and for all parties to engage in peaceful dialogue," he said in a statement.
