Washington: In an attempt to thwart any probable terrorist hijacking plots, the US has suspended two programmes that allow some foreigners to enter its soil without a visa.

Nearly 6,000 travellers, primarily from Asia and Latin America will be affected by the decision in the next two months, Homeland Security and State Department officials said on August 2.

It said the suspension of the transit without visa and the international-to-international programme formally took effect at 11.00 am (8.30 pm IST) on August 2.

The transit without visa programme has been used primarily by passengers from Brazil, Mexico and Peru who stopped at us airports while travelling to and from Asia.

The international-to-international programme limited the number of US transit points to one airport and barred travellers from leaving international transit lounges while waiting for connecting flights.

The state department said that international terror network al-Qaeda and other terrorist organisations had planned to use the programmes as a way of getting access to flights to and from the United States.

The departments "have received specific, credible intelligence… That certain terrorist organisations including al-Qaeda have identified the visa and passport exemptions of those programmes as a means to gain access to aircraft en route to and from the United States," State Department spokeswoman Joanne Prokopowicz was quoted as saying by the 'Washington Post'.

PTI