UN ISSUES SECURITY NOTICE AHEAD OF BASHIR

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000076 DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/IP/SPC/SO, AF/SPG, AF/E, LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2029 TAGS: ASEC PGOV PINS ER SUBJECT: UN ISSUES SECURITY NOTICE AHEAD OF BASHIR INDICTMENT Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for Reason 1.4 (d) ¶1. (C) The United Nations Office of Security (UN/DSS) has issued a worldwide travel warning to all UN offices regarding the possibility of riots erupting as a result of the impending indictment of Sudanese President Bashir, according to the UN/Asmara security officer. The notice expressed particular concern for countries with Muslim populations. The officer also told RSO he met with all UN agency heads to discuss this notice on March 3, and while all members agreed to maintain a low profile, they felt the likelihood of protests in Asmara was very low. (Demonstrations, along with most public gatherings are illegal under Eritrean law. Also, few of Eritrea's Muslims live in Asmara). The security officer thought it was doubtful any of the Eritrean government-hosted Somali extremists in Asmara would take violent action here without the blessing of the Eritrean government, given the GSE's hard stance on public assembly. A separate UN source told RSO that UN/DSS has taken a more proactive security posture in the wake of the bombings of its facilities in Somalia and Algiers last year. ¶2. (C) Comment: Post agrees demonstrations against the Bashir indictment are unlikely. Post has no information of any protests or actions directed against the U.S. Embassy, its properties/personnel, or any other American personnel or interests in Eritrea. MCMULLEN