State Dept. issues warnings in Sudan, Tunisia

Islamic Tunisian protesters run away as police officers fire tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd gathered in front of the U.S. embassy in Tunis, as part of widespread anger across the Muslim world about a film ridiculing Islam's Prophet Muhammad, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012. / AP/Hassene Dridi

(AP) WASHINGTON - The State Department on Saturday ordered the departure of all family members and non-essential U.S. government personnel from posts in Sudan and Tunisia and is issuing travel warnings to American citizens in the two countries due to security concerns over anti-American violence.

"Given the security situation in Tunis and Khartoum, the State Department has ordered the departure of all family members and non-emergency personnel from both posts, and issued parallel travel warnings to American citizens," said Victoria Nuland, a department spokeswoman.

The department's travel warning said while Sudan's government has taken steps to limit the activities of terrorist groups, some remain there and have threatened to attack Western interests. The terrorist threat level remains critical.

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The State Department said the airport in Tunis was open and it encouraged all U.S. citizens to depart by commercial air. It said Americans in Tunisia should use extreme caution and avoid demonstrations.

The warnings follow a wave of protest and violence over an anti-Muslim film that has swept across the Middle East and elsewhere in recent days. An obscure, amateurish movie called "Innocence of Muslims" that depicts Muhammad as a fraud, a womanizer and a pedophile sparked the outrage.

Friday's demonstrations spread to more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia. While most were peaceful, marches in several places exploded into violence.

In Sudan, crowds torched part of the German Embassy and tried to storm the American Embassy. Protesters climbed the walls into the U.S. Embassy in Tunis, torching cars in the parking lot, trashing the entrance building and setting fire to a gym and a neighboring American school.

The State Department travel warning came as President Barack Obama paid tribute to the four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens, who were killed in an armed attack on the U.S. Consulate in the eastern Libyan city on Benghazi this week. He also denounced the anti-U.S. mob protests that followed.

[joeintheknow]

When Ron Paul called for peaceful trade with all nations he was called an isolationist. Our government said we must intervene. Now we are tucking tail and running and it seems the interventionists have become the isolationists.

[donretired]

They don't even know what toliet paper is for but yet pigs are unhealthy. I say leave and let them kill each other because that is what they do best.

[airboatboy]

by ZionistCensorship September 15, 2012 6:59 PM EDT
They will just hate it if we stop killing their babies, raping their women, burning their holy books, urinating on their corpses, and posting derogatory videos on the internet.

Yeah, they might stop sending children to kill people, quit stoning people, and beheading people. This would be awful for such a peaceful religion, you moron.

[airboatboy]

Think about it.... We kill Bin Laden, nothing happens... make comments about a make believe god, these idiots go nuts...how do ya deal with retards!?!?

[Solarrays247]

Think about it....rumors of wmds in Iraq...former President George W. Bush then claims he is on a mission from God, and proceeds to launch the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

If we ever figure out how to deal with religious nuts, real or phony...perhaps we'll be able to save many lives.

[takacrat]

Lets vote for Obama and let Iran get a Nuke Bomb, then Iran will Nuke Israel then we can Nuke Iran and miss and hit North Korea, then England can Nuke South Africa, Dam this is good Obama Cool-aid Beer, I think I will shoot up another line!!

[IAMCS]

I think we should leave all the muslim nations and let them kill each other and eat dirt.

[MrsHippy]

I think they should eat each other. Question is, do they know how to use a fork and spoon?

[airboatboy]

Bomb 'em with pig fetuses.