KENYA: Possible security threat to AIDS conference
JOHANNESBURG, 19 September (IRIN) - Some 1,000 delegates could stay away from an upcoming international AIDS conference in Nairobi, Kenya, due to security fears, the conference chairman has said.
Around 8,000 delegates were initially expected to attend the bi-annual 13th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA), from 21 to 26 September.
However, ICASA chairman, Joseph Owili, said at least 1,015 delegates had confirmed they would not be attending.
Owili was quoted by the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news service as saying: "There have been allegations of insecurity in the country and some delegates from the United States [US] have said they will not attend the conference because of that."
The US recently extended a warning of "high potential" for terrorist attacks targeting its citizens and interests throughout east Africa, and in particular, Kenya.
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