US warns of attacks on Air Uganda

Kampala, 10 Jan-(ANA)-The US embassy in the Sudanese capital Khartoum has warned of a possible attack on Air Uganda planes.

The embassy said it had information that US travellers faced a potential threat between Juba in Sudan and the Ugandan capital, Kampala.

But the Sudanese foreign ministry said the threat was "not serious".

Sudan is on a list of 14 countries where US-bound passengers will be subjected to extra searches following the attempted plane bombing last month.

Other Sudanese officials said they had known of a potential threat for some time.

The AFP news agency reported that one plane en route to Juba was diverted as a precaution.

In a statement, the US embassy said it had "received information indicating a desire by regional extremists to conduct a deadly attack on board Air Uganda aircraft" on the Juba to Kampala route.

The embassy said the "capacity of these extremists to carry out such an attack is unknown" but that the threat was "of sufficient seriousness that all American air travellers should be made aware".

AFP said an Air Uganda flight was returned to Entebbe airport in Kampala when it was ordered to return. (ANA)

FA/ANA/10 January 2010------