The US State Department on Saturday renewed travel warnings for Americans to the Middle East and North Africa over security concerns in the region.

"The August 20, 2004 US indictment of key Hamas figures may be used as an excuse to target American citizens or American interests throughout the region.

In addition, the Department of State continues to warn of the possibility for demonstrations and violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests in the region," the State Department said in a statement.

Anti-American violence could include possible terrorist actions against aviation, ground transportation and maritime interests, specifically in the Middle East, including the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa, the statement said.

The statement said that "credible" information had indicated terrorist groups sought to continue attacks against US interests in the Middle East and terrorist actions might include additional suicide operations, bombings, hijackings, kidnappings and targeted attacks resulting in death.

While conventional weapons such as explosive devices are a more immediate threat in many areas, use of non-conventional weapons, including chemical or biological agents must be considered a possible threat, the statement added.

The latest travel warning superseded the one issued by the State Department on June 18 and would expire on February 18, 2005.

US Attorney General John Ashcroft announced Friday that US authorities had arrested two suspected members of the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Washington area.

The two, Muhammad Hamid Khalil Salah and Abdelhaleem Hasan Abdelraziq Ashqar, together with Mousa Mohammed Abu Marzook, were charged with supporting Hamas, which has been designated by the US government as a terrorist organization.

An arrest warrant for Marzook had been issued, who is now believed to live in Damascus, Ashcroft said.

Source: Xinhua