PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT WORLDWIDE CAUTION

Americans fear World Wide Alarmed at Possible Retaliation against Sheikh yassin Assassination

Middle East and North Africa

March 23, 2004

This Public Announcement is being updated to alert U.S. citizens of the heightened threat of terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens and interests following the killing of HAMAS leader Sheikh Yassin in Gaza. This Public Announcement supersedes the Public Announcement issued on March 19, 2004, and expires September 23, 2004.

The Department of State is deeply concerned about the heightened threat of terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens and interests abroad in the aftermath of the recent killing of HAMAS leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in Gaza. The Department is also concerned about the potential for demonstrations and violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests in the region and throughout the world in response to his death. A HAMAS spokesman threatened revenge and identified American interests as targets. U.S. citizens are reminded to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness.

U.S. citizens are reminded of the continuing threat of anti-American violence, including possible terrorist actions against aviation, ground transportation and maritime interests, specifically in the Middle East, including the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa. Credible information has indicated terrorist groups may be planning attacks against U.S. interests in the Middle East. Terrorist actions may include suicide operations, bombings, hijackings or kidnappings. These attacks may involve aviation, ground transportation and maritime interests. 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. Terrorists do not distinguish between official and civilian targets. Increased security at official U.S. facilities has led terrorists and their sympathizers to seek softer targets such as public transportation, residential areas, and public areas where people congregate.

On occasion, the travel of official personnel at embassies and consulates around the world is restricted because of security concerns, and these posts may recommend that private U.S. citizens avoid the same areas if at all possible. Services to U.S. citizens in countries abroad may be affected if employees’ movements are restricted. If this happens, U.S. embassies and consulates will make every effort to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens. In case office hours are reduced, U.S. citizens in need of emergency assistance should telephone the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate before visiting in person.

In addition, U.S. citizens planning to travel to the Middle East or North Africa should consult the Department of State's country-specific Public Announcements, Travel Warnings, Consular Information Sheets, the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement and other information, Fact Sheets, and regional travel brochures available on the Consular Affairs Internet website at http://travel.state.gov. Up-to-date information on security conditions can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 in the U.S. and for callers outside the U.S. and Canada a regular toll line at 1-317-472-2328.

The Embassy's Consular Section can be contacted by phone at (968) 698-989 ext. 294/216; Fax: (968) 699-189 during normal working hours. For emergencies after hours, please contact (968) 699-049.

Sincerely,

Wesley Robertson
Chief, Consular Section
U.S. Embassy Muscat

March 23, 2004

MUSCAT - This Worldwide Caution Public Announcement is being updated to alert U.S. citizens of the heightened threat of terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens and interests following the killing of Sheikh Yassin in Gaza. This supersedes the Worldwide Caution dated March 19, 2004 and expires on September 23, 2004.

The Department of State is deeply concerned about the heightened threat of terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens and interests abroad in the aftermath of the recent killing of HAMAS leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in Gaza. The Department is also concerned about the potential for demonstrations and violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests overseas as a response to the killing. A HAMAS spokesman has threatened revenge and specifically identified American interests as targets. U.S. citizens are reminded to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness.

The Department of State remains concerned by indications that al-Qaida continues to prepare to strike U.S. interests abroad. Al-Qaida and its associated organizations have most recently struck in the Middle East and in Europe but other geographic locations could also be venues for attacks. Future al-Qaida attacks could possibly involve non-conventional weapons such as chemical or biological agents as well as conventional weapons of terror. We also cannot rule out that al-Qaida will attempt a catastrophic attack within the U.S.

Terrorist actions may include, but are not limited to, suicide operations, hijackings, bombings or kidnappings. These may involve aviation and other transportation and maritime interests, and may also include conventional weapons, such as explosive devices. Terrorists do not distinguish between official and civilian targets. These may include facilities where U.S. citizens and other foreigners congregate or visit, including residential areas, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, hotels and public areas. U.S. citizens are encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness.

U.S. Government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of alert. These facilities may temporarily close or suspend public services from time to time to assess their security posture. In those instances, U.S. embassies and consulates will make every effort to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens. Americans abroad are urged to monitor the local news and maintain contact with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

As the Department continues to develop information on any potential security threats to U.S. citizens overseas, it shares credible threat information through its consular information program documents, available on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-317-472-2 328.

The Embassy's Consular Section can be contacted by phone at (968) 698-989 ext. 294/216; Fax: (968) 699-189 during normal working hours. For emergencies after hours, please contact (968) 699-049.

Sincerely,

Wesley Robertson
Chief, Consular Section
U.S. Embassy Muscat

UK News March 23, 2004.

New housing programme aims to keep skills needed in key public services

Mar 23: A new £ 690 million 'Key Worker Living' programme to help keep the skills needed in key front line public services, such as in education, health, and community safety, has been launched by the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott today.The announcement was supported by Secretary of State for Education, Charles Clarke and Secretary of State for Health, John Reid.

The new programme builds on the success of the Starter Home Initiative, which is on track to place over 9,000 key workers into home ownership by 31 March 2004, with a further 1200 expected to complete purchases in the first few weeks of the new financial year.'Key Worker Living' offers four simple options, including home ownership packages and intermediate rental solutions and will be marketed by one-stop-shops located in London, the South East and the East of England, where house prices are high and recruitment and retention is difficult. Eligibility varies across the regions depending on local recruitment and retention priorities.More News click here

WHO News

Global Strategy: Breastfeeding critical for child survival

UNICEF and WHO call for increased commitment to appropriate feeding practices for all infants and young children

New York Mar 23: Calling on governments to promote and protect breastfeeding, UNICEF and WHO today jointly launched the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding. The document, developed over two years of global consultation, pinpoints the main problems affecting infant and young child feeding and identifies approaches to their solution.

"There is no better way than breastfeeding to make sure that a child gets the best start in life," said UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy. "The strategy is an invaluable roadmap for governments to create supportive environments where women can make informed choices about feeding their children."

Breastfeeding alone provides the ideal nourishment for infants for the first six months of life as it provides all the nutrients, antibodies, hormones, immune factors and antioxidants an infant needs to thrive. It protects babies from diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections and stimulates their immune systems.

"Virtually all mothers can breastfeed provided they have accurate information, and support within their families and communities and from the health care system," said LEE Jong-wook, Director-General of WHO. "Governments should move swiftly and effectively to implement this important strategy."

Lack of breastfeeding - and especially lack of exclusive breastfeeding during the first half-year of life - are important risk factors for infant and childhood morbidity and mortality. These risk factors are compounded by inappropriate complementary feeding as infants grow.

"Exclusive breastfeeding in the first half-year of life and continued breastfeeding coupled with appropriate foods reduce the number of children under five who die from malnutrition," said Dr Lee. Malnutrition is associated with more than 50% of deaths among children under five.

The strategy calls for a dramatic increase in the number of infants who are exclusively breastfed. Currently, no more than 35% of infants worldwide are exclusively breastfed during even the first four months of life. Complementary feeding frequently begins too early or too late, and foods are often nutritionally inadequate and unsafe. Malnourished children who survive are more frequently sick and suffer the life-long consequences of impaired development.

"The long-term impact of poor feeding practices in infancy and early childhood include poor school performance, reduced productivity and impaired intellectual and social development," Bellamy said.

In addition to stressing the link between the health and nutritional status of mothers and children, the strategy addresses the challenges of feeding in exceptionally difficult circumstances, such as natural or man-made emergencies.

The strategy also highlights the issue of optimal feeding of the roughly 2.6 million children who are born to HIV-infected women each year. The absolute risk of HIV transmission through breastfeeding - globally between 5% and 20% - needs to be balanced against the increased risk of morbidity and mortality when infants are not breastfed. All HIV-infected mothers should receive information about the risks and benefits of various options and guidance in choosing the most suitable option.

The Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding, available in six languages, was presented by UN Under Secretary-General for Management Catherine Bertini on 23 March to the Standing Committee on Nutrition session at the UN. It was distributed 24 March during a session on Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding and their contribution to achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals. -Keralamonitor.com