Australia has advised its nationals to stay away from Kenya's capital Nairobi, saying it has received new information that possible terror attacks are being planned against international hotels there.
Today's warning, in an updated travel advisory from Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), followed a similar warning from Washington and the evacuation of a main office block in the centre of Nairobi after a bomb threat.
"We have received uncorroborated information of possible imminent terrorist attacks against international hotels in the Nairobi city centre," the Australian advisory said.
"Given this risk we continue to advise Australians to defer non-essential travel to Kenya. Australians in Kenya who are concerned about their safety should consider departure."
The US warning yesterday an anonymous letter had mentioned the Stanley and Hilton hotels in downtown Nairobi.
Most countries have issued high-level threat warnings on travel to Kenya since the U.S. embassy in Nairobi was bombed in 1998, killing 214 people. Washington blamed Osama bin Laden's radical Islamic al Qaeda network for the attack.
Last November, suicide bombers attacked an Israeli-owned hotel near the resort town of Mombasa.
Australia has issued a blizzard of travel advisories alerting its citizens to the dangers in various countries after 88 Australians were among the 202 people killed in the Bali nightclub bombings in Indonesia in October last year.
On Wednesday, the government reissued advice warning Australians to defer all travel to Pakistan, saying it continued to receive reports of planning for possible terror attacks in Karachi and other major cities.
The department also urged a high degree of caution in Malaysia, particularly in areas frequented by foreigners.
"We continue to receive reports that terrorist elements in the region are planning attacks," the foreign ministry said.
Th ministry has issued a list of 12 nations to be avoided if possible, including Kenya, and advised against all travel to six countries including Iraq and Afghanistan.