WASHINGTON -- The State Department urged travelers to defer
nonessential travel to the west African republic of Cote d'Ivoire,
noting that the government declared a state of emergency and
imposed a curfew throughout the country in anticipation of the
presidential election on Oct. 22.
Separately, the department recommended that travelers to
Tanzania limit travel to Zanzibar Island and avoid Pemba Island
during the period leading up to and immediately following
Tanzania's Oct. 29 national elections.
U.S. citizens remaining on Zanzibar Island and Pemba Island
should maintain a high level of vigilance, avoid political rallies,
avoid traveling alone and carry their passports at all times, it
said.
Updating a consular information sheet, the department reminded
travelers to the Republic of Georgia to steer clear of the
separatist-controlled region of Abkhazia.
Due to kidnapping and banditry, travelers to Georgia should
avoid the Pankisi Gorge north of Akhmeta; northern mountainous
areas that border on Chechnya, Dagestan and Svaneti; travel to
South Ossetia, and travel along the Georgian Military Highway north
of the Gudauri ski resort, it advised.
The consular sheet also reported that power outages at the
airport at Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, occasionally briefly
disable the guidance beacon, forcing visual flight landings.
Substantially revamped was the consular information sheet for
Russia, warning travelers to stay away from Chechnya and all areas
bordering Chechnya, North Ossetia, Ingushetia, Dagestan, Stavropol,
Karachayevo-Cherkessiya and Kabardino-Balkariya.
The new sheet updated Russian entry and exit procedures, the
crime situation, road conditions, customs regulations, currency and
other matters.
For the complete consular sheet, visit travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html.