New US travel advisory for Haiti

The United States (US) State Department has issued a travel advisory for Americans going to earthquake-ravaged Haiti to be extra careful following the murders of four American citizens there in recent months.

The US embassy in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, says the four, who were visiting relatives, were robbed and killed near the airport in separate incidents over the past three months.

The State Department said police authorities believe criminals may be targeting travellers arriving on flights from the United States and advised such persons to use extra caution in arranging transportation from the airport.

In its statement on Monday, the State Department warned that its security was limited in the aftermath of the January 12 earthquake.

It said US citizens travelling to and residing in Haiti must remember that there remains a persistent danger of violent crime, including armed robbery, homicide, rape and kidnapping.

The State Department added that the lack of civil protections in Haiti, as well as the limited capability of local law enforcement to resolve crime, further compounds the security threat to American citizens.

US Embassy personnel are under an embassy-imposed curfew and have been oredered to remain in their homes or in US government facilities.

Port-au-Prince has been deemed off-limits to embassy staff after dark.