Americans told to stay away from Indonesia

WASHINGTON -- The State Department warned Americans on Wednesday to stay away from Indonesia, saying the terrorist attacks have "significantly" raised concerns for the safety of U.S. citizens there.

The department also authorized all U.S. government employees with non-emergency jobs to leave the country and advised those staying to "exercise maximum caution."

On Monday, the department said the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta had received indications that "extremist elements may be planning to target U.S. interests in Indonesia," including government facilities and possibly tourists.

There have been several small-scale anti-U.S. protests in Indonesia, a predominantly Muslim nation of 210 million people in Southeast Asia. U.S. flags and effigies of President Bush have been burned.

Indonesia's President Megawati Sukarnoputri visited Bush last week and pledged support for Washington's fight against terrorism. Influential Muslim clerics condemned the attacks on the United States but said U.S. forces must not launch revenge attacks on Afghanistan.

Separately, the State Department said Wednesday that the U.S. Embassy in the former Soviet republic of Georgia has received credible evidence that American citizens in that country are being targeted for kidnaping.

The announcement said there is no information to suggest that the threat has any connection to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"U.S. citizens are urged to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to enhance their security," the announcement said.

It also urged that Americans maintain a low profile, vary routes and times for all required travel, and if at all possible, are encouraged not to travel alone or to remote or sparsely inhabited sections of Tbilisi, the capital.

In a third advisory, the State Department said Americans should avoid traveling to Bangladesh during the week of its parliamentary elections, Oct. 1-7, and in the days following. Those currently in Bangladesh are advised to keep a low profile and limit local travel.