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Travel Security News Update

The U.S. Department of State has issued a worldwide caution to remind Americans to be vigilant about their personal safety when traveling abroad. "We are seeing indications that Al-Qaida continues to prepare to strike U.S. interests abroad," it said. Travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 888-407-4747 in the U.S., or 317-472-2328 outside the U.S. and Canada. Separately, State has warned Americans not to travel to Indonesia. Anyone already there is strongly urged to avoid traveling to Aceh. Legislative elections will be held on April 5 2004, and there could be election-related demonstrations and violence.

In the aftermath of the terrorist bombings in Madrid, which left almost 200 dead and almost 1,500 wounded at latest count, U.S. Homeland Security has issued a bulletin advising state officials, police, and transit and rail agencies to be vigilant. The group suggested adding more surveillance and advised people to look out for unattended bags and backpacks. A spokesman for Homeland Security, however, has said that there is no specific indication that terrorists are considering such attacks in the U.S. in the near term. The U.S. terror alert level remains unchanged at yellow, indicating an "elevated status," except in New York City, where it has remained orange since Sept. 11, 2001.

Beginning later this month, workers at New York's JFK Terminal 4 will be subjected to new security technologies such as iris scans. Other potential checks could include weighing workers to determine if they are carrying bags or body analysis checks meant to concealed detect weapons.

Reports by the Voice of America are saying that the Bush administration will lift the ban on passport travel to Libya by Americans. The move follows Libya's decision in December to dismantle its nuclear program and other weapons-of-mass-destruction activities. Officials here say the passport ban is being lifted, and the administration will remove some related financial restrictions, in order to permit legal travel to Libya by Americans for the first time in more than two decades. Earlier this month, the U.S. posted a full-time diplomat in the U.S. interests section at the Belgian embassy in Tripoli in the first official presence since the American embassy was closed and its staff pulled out amid high tensions in 1980.

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