Note: The following text is a quote:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3124.html
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
This information is current as of today, Sat Mar 10 2007 03:53:07 GMT-0800.
Senegal
March 09, 2007
This Public Announcement is being issued to advise American citizens to defer most non-essential travel to the Casamance region due to an increase in violence there. This Public Announcement is valid until June 9, 2007.
In the past month, there has been fighting on both sides of the Casamance river between rebels and the Senegalese military. Due to the increased violence and the unpredictability of the current security situation in the Casamance region, the Department of State recommends against all nonessential travel to the Casamance region, except direct air travel to the Cap Skirring resort area or to the city of Ziguinchor.
Americans should avoid driving outside Ziguinchor and Cap Skirring's city limits. American citizens who must travel to the Casamance region should regularly monitor the Department's Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov where the current Consular Information Sheet for Senegal, the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, and other travel information can be found. Up to date information on security can also be obtained by emailing consulardakar@state.gov or calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada, or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
Americans living or traveling in Senegal are urged to register with the U.S. Embassy in Dakar, where they can obtain updated information on travel and security within Senegal. Security updates are e-mailed to all registered Americans with an e-mail address. Registration is done online and can be done in advance of travel at https://travelregistration.state.gov. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the U.S. Embassy in Dakar. By registering, U.S. citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency.
The U.S. Embassy is located at Avenue Jean XXIII, Dakar; the mailing address is B.P. 49, Dakar, Senegal. The telephone number is (221) 823-4296; after-hours (221) 823-4604. The U.S. Embassy website is http://usembassy.state.gov/dakar.
Note: The following text (minus the photo) is a quote:
http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2007/s07030054.htm
ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA
Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net -- E-mail: danjuma1@aol.com
Friday, March 9, 2007
Salem Voice Ministries‘ Missionary Attacked in Kashmir
By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
KUPWARA, KASHMIR, INDIA (ANS) -- A Salem Voice Ministries missionary in Jammu and Kashmir was attacked on March 6 in Kupwara in Jammua and Kashmir, India.
Pastor Ashir suffered a broken leg in the attack.
Pastor Ashir was returning home on Tuesday afternoon after a prayer meeting in a small village Rikwaza, which is about 6 miles away from Kupwara. Suddenly a group of masked people attacked him with steel pipes and wooden sticks. He was severely beaten and one of his legs was broken.
Ashir became unconscious and fell down. Some of the local people found him in the street and admitted him to the hospital.
Local police have registered a case against some unidentified militants.
Tahira, Pastor Ashir's wife, and their four- month-old child, Noorul Masih, are also under threat.
SVM asks for prayer for the Ashir family and says that few families believe in Jesus Christ in that locality.
Rev. Paul Ciniraj, President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) who is also the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries, condemned the attack against Pastor Ashir.
Salem Voice Ministries,
Devalokam, Kottayam,
Kerala-686038, India.
http://salemvoice.org
** Michael Ireland is an international British freelance journalist. A former reporter with a London newspaper, Michael is the Chief Correspondent for ASSIST News Service of Lake Forest, California. Michael immigrated to the United States in 1982 and became a US citizen in September, 1995. He is married with two children. Michael has also been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station.
** You may republish this story with proper attribution.