Australians asked not to visit Papua

Australians asked not to visit Papua

Agence France-presse, Sydney

Australian authorities here on Wednesday added the Papua province to its growing list of places Australians should avoid due to possible terrorist attacks.

The Australian foreign ministry said new information had emerged indicating Australians faced threats in Papua, a big mining area where there has been a low-level insurgency.

"Australians should avoid travel to Papua," the ministry said in its latest travel advice.

"Australians there should exercise caution and monitor local developments that might affect their safety, especially in view of the heightened security situation following the the recent incidents in the Freeport mine area," it said.

The government has issued numerous security updates for Australians across southeast Asia since a car bombing by suspected Islamic militants killed more than 190 people --94 of them believed to be Australian-- in Bali on Oct. 12.

The foreign ministry reiterated in Wednesday's update that Australians who are not on essential business should leave Indonesia, including Bali. --AFP