TAIPEI: "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs" (MOFA) has elevated its travel alert level for Indonesia and the United Kingdom (UK) over concerns of potential terrorist attacks, the MOFA said in a statement yesterday.

The "ministry" has elevated the travel alert level for Indonesia and the UK to yellow, the second lowest on the MOFA's four-scale system, and also issued a red travel alert, the highest on the scale, for Iraq.

The MOFA said Indonesia, and especially Bali, which attracts the most Taiwanese tourists, could possibly be targeted for a terrorist attack.

The MOFA issued the new alert for Britain after the UK's Home Office raised its domestic terrorism threat level in late January from substantial to severe, the second highest in its five-tier threat warning system, which means an attack is highly likely.

A yellow alert warns travelers to take extra precautions and reassess their travel plans for the place in question.

The terrorist group Al Qaida could also possibly launch attacks in Iraq, prompting the "ministry" to issue the highest red alert before the Gulf country holds its parliamentary elections on March 7. The "ministry" again advised Taiwanese travelers against visiting the Middle East country.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 02/03/2010 page2)