Seoul raises travel alert to Mali states from security unrest

SEOUL, July 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea raised its travel alert level Thursday for
three states in Mali due to ongoing civil unrest and continued kidnappings of
foreigners in the African nation.

The foreign ministry said it has raised the current "travel discretion" status in
the border states of Tombouctou, Kidal and Gao up to the third-strongest alert
level of "travel restriction," citing unceasing civil conflict between the Mali
government and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
Dozens of people were reported dead in the region this month in violent clashes
between the Malian army and AQIM fighters. The country has also seen a series of
kidnappings of Westerners by the group.
The ministry urged its nationals in the region with no pressing business there to
return to South Korea immediately and also called for anyone scheduled to travel
to the region to cancel their trips.
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