Tuesday, August 30 2005 16:23 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dubai: With companies in Oman sending Indians to work in Iraq, India has issued a notice reminding its nationals that the ban on travelling to the war-ravaged country was still in place.

Despite the Indian government banning its citizens from travelling to Iraq after three of its nationals were kidnapped in July last year, some Omani companies have been sending Indian nationals to the country on a regular basis.

"The embassy of India reiterates the government of India's decision regarding imposition of ban on travel of Indian nationals from Oman to Iraq," the Indian mission in Muscat said in a release. "The travel ban was imposed in view of the security situation in Iraq and is motivated by Indian government's concern for the safety and security of its nationals," it said. The embassy has advised all companies based in Oman, employing Indian nationals, to cooperate in the implementation of the ban and refrain from sending Indians to Iraq in the interest of these companies' standing with the Indian government, Gulf News reported.

"It is once again notified that this ban remains in force and all nationals, in their own interest should not travel to Iraq until such time an announcement is made by this embassy notifying the lifting of the ban," the release added.