US warns of Middle East unrest after Zarqawi killing

Washington, June 15 : The United States warned today of possible unrest in the Middle East after the US military killed the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq and three detainees hanged themselves at the US prison in Guantanamo.

Issued to alert Americans in the West Asia to take extra precautions due to the potential for violence, the warning was not made specifically in response to these events, but was a routine six-month update to an existing announcement.

Still, the warning highlighted US concern for a possible backlash following the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq after a US airstrike and three prisoners committed suicide on Saturday in what has become a lightning rod for calls to close the Guantanamo prison this month.

These incidents, as well as clashes this month between Israelis and Palestinians, ''have the potential to produce demonstrations and unrest throughout the region,'' the State Department said in its alert.

Reuters