Britons urged to avoid south east Turkey

Britons were warned against non-essential travel to south eastern Turkey because of heightened tension over Iraq and the threat of terrorism.

Updating its travel advice for the strongly Kurdish area, the Foreign Office warned those already there to maintain a high level of vigilance and consider whether it was essential they remain.

The advice follows similar warnings about Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yemen, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Qatar and Israel and the occupied territories.

The new advice for Turkey reads: "The vast majority of visits to Turkey are trouble-free. Turkey is one of a number of countries where there is a threat from domestic terrorism and an increased risk from international terrorism, which the Turkish authorities are tackling with vigour and so far, in the tourist areas, effectively.

"We advise against any non-essential travel, including holiday travel, to south-eastern Turkey and, if already there, to maintain a high level of vigilance and to consider whether your presence is essential.

"Developments on Iraq and any further increase in regional tension could affect our travel advice. You should check it daily and follow developments closely."

Britons in Saudi Arabia, Syria and Yemen were warned earlier today that they face an increasing terrorist threat and that any attack could involve the use of chemical or biological agents.

The Foreign Office said that the threat from terrorism to British citizens in the three countries was already "high" and will increase further in the event of war with Iraq.

At the same time, the FCO revised its travel advice to Lebanon to caution against all non-essential travel.

Britons already in Lebanon were advised to consider whether their presence was essential. The FCO issued a similar terrorist alert in relation to Oman and Qatar. British nationals have been warned to leave Bahrain and Jordan unless their presence was essential.

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