Americans told to avoid Karachi; it is 'not safe'

The United States has advised its citizens to defer non-essential travel plans to Pakistan, especially its commercial hub Karachi which ''is not a safe place for Americans''.

The state department's travel warning came after four American oil company employees were shot to death on their way to work in Karachi on Wednesday.

State department spokesman James Rubin has also advised Americans, living in dangerous areas abroad, to avoid doing or saying things that would immediately identify their nationality.

Rubin declined to spell out details of security arrangements for Secretary of State Madeleine Albright who is reaching Islamabad on Sunday on an official visit to South Asia. She will reach New Delhi on November 18.

Meanwhile, according to a Pakistani report, an hitherto unknown group, the Aimal Secret Committee claimed responsibility for the killings and threatened more attacks if Mir Aimal Kasi gets death penalty for the 1993 murders of two CIA workers.

EARLIER REPORTS:
Karachi killings shock US
4 Americans killed in Pak over Kasi's conviction

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