Nepal bombing prompts travel warning

The United States has urged its citizens to stay away from Nepal following the bombing of a US information centre and fears that Americans could be attacked by Maoist rebels.

“The Embassy has received information that the Maoists may attempt to attack or take actions specifically against US citizens … particularly in regions of the country under Maoist control,” said a travel warning posted on the US State Department Web site yesterday.

It said Americans should defer non-essential travel to Nepal and those already in the country should avoid road travel outside the capital, Katmandu.

The warnings follows Friday’s bombing of the American information centre in Katmandu. No one was injured, but it damaged the building, which houses some embassy offices.

The Department also said it has approved a request for the voluntary departure of non-emergency personnel and the family members of embassy staff. The Peace Corps temporarily suspended all operations in the country.

The United States is the government’s biggest backer in its war against the rebels, who claim to be inspired by Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong and have been fighting since 1996 to replace Nepal’s monarchy with a communist state.