Lebanon is No. 5 Top Terror Risk Among 196 Nations

Lebanon ranks 5th as a top terror risk among 196 countries
16 Feb 2010
Source: Reuters

LONDON, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Iraq is the country most at risk from terrorist attacks for the second straight year, according to a ranking by global analysts Maplecroft, while Thailand has joined the nine countries most in danger for the first time.

The risk consultancy's Terrorism Risk Index of 196 countries shows that although security in Iraq has improved, the scale, human impact and frequency of attacks still makes it the riskiest country for political violence with nearly 4,500 civilians killed in 2009.

Rated at extreme risk, based on 2009 data, are the following countries: Afghanistan is 2, Pakistan 3, Somalia 4, Lebanon 5, India 6, Algeria 7, Colombia 8 and Thailand 9.

The UK-based risk advisory group's index tracks the risks of an attack, the intensity of violence as measured by casualties per incident, and a country's history of extremist violence.

POTENTIAL DISRUPTION OF BUSINESS AND TOURISM OPERATIONS

"However, smaller terrorist incidents often go unreported, despite having potential to disrupt business operations and supply chains."

More than 3,900 people have been killed in six years of unrest in Thailand's rebellious deep south blamed on separatist insurgents in the region bordering Malaysia.

In Afghanistan, Western countries hope a major offensive this year backed by 30,000 extra troops will help push the Afghan Taliban to the negotiating table.

Major movers in the index, versus a year earlier, were:

Yemen: Rose to 22 from 29 due to an increase in abductions and an increase in the threat from al Qaeda.

Iran: Rose to 19 from 25, due to insurgencies in Baluchistan and Khuzestan and rising anti-government sentiment.

China: Rises to 43 from 54 due to increase in the intensity of security incidents in 2008-09 compared to 2006-07.

Egypt: Rises to 54 from 66, due to a spate of minor security incidents in late 2008 and early 2009.

For more go to http://lebanoniznogood.blogspot.com/2010/02/warning-against-travel-to-lebanon.html