The United States on Tuesday urged US citizens to avoid travel to Nepal and allowed no emergency personnel and family members of the US embassy staff there to leave the country.

"This travel warning is being issued to alert Americans to continuing security concerns in Nepal," the State Department said in a statement.

Two bombs exploded at the American Center compound in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal, on Sept. 10, causing facility damage although no persons were injured in the incident.

"On Sept. 14, the Department of State authorized the departure of no emergency personnel and family members of the US embassy on a voluntary basis, and the Peace Corps temporarily suspended all operations in Nepal," the statement said.

The statement said that the embassy had received information that the rebels in Nepal might attack or take actions specifically against US citizens.

(Xinhua News Agency September 15, 2004)