The United States yesterday warned of kidnappings of foreigners in resorts around Sabah's eastern coastal areas.

There have been several kidnapping and piracy incidents in the areas since 2001.

Among the latest reported international kidnapping cases was in October 2003, when six Indonesian and Filipino workers were abducted from a coastal resort in eastern Sabah.

"There are indications of planned additional kidnappings in eastern Sabah's coastal areas, especially at resorts frequented by foreigners," a US State Department public announcement said Monday.

It warned American citizens to be cautious when visiting the areas.

"Because of these incidents, along with indications of a continuing threat of kidnap attempts, American citizens should exercise caution when visiting the coastal areas of eastern Sabah," the advisory said, updating a previous alert issued in May.

Since 2001, Malaysia has maintained a significant security presence in the region, but Sabah has extensive open waters between the mainland and its offshore islands, the statement said.

"Emergency assistance may not always be available."

Be wary of Southern Thai

Al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf kidnap-for-ransom group based in the southern Philippines was responsible for some of the kidnappings.

The State Department said that extremist groups in the region were capable of carrying out transnational attacks in locations where Westerners congregated, warning that they did not distinguish between official and civilian targets.

It also advised US citizens to be wary about traveling overland into southern Thailand from Malaysia.

The southern Thai province of Narathiwat has been tense since 87 people died last month after troops broke up a riot with tear gas, water cannon and gunfire. The majority suffocated or were crushed after being bound and left for hours on military trucks.

Malaysia, whose northern peninsula shares a border with Thailand, has put its border police on alert and warned citizens against crossing into southern Thailand, a popular destination for tourism and shopping.