The State Department announcement renewed an announcement issued in July. The agency said terrorist activity in the Philippines remains high, including several bombings in Mindanao, the largest island in the southern Philippines. The department singled out two terror groups, the communist New People’s Army, which operates throughout the country, and the southern Abu Sayyaf Muslim extremist group, which the Philippine government says is loosely aligned with the al-Qaida network.The State Department also issued a new warning urging U.S. citizens to re-evaluate plans to travel to Djibouti in the Horn of Africa, where U.S. troops are based in connection with the fight against terror.The department said Americans should remain vigilant, especially in restaurants, hotels and other public places, and should avoid large crowds.
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