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France issues travel warning to avoid Sinai Peninsula

Xinhua, November 6, 2015 Adjust font size:

France urged travelers to avoid the Sinai Peninsula after a Russian plane allegedly exploded in mid-air killing all 224 people on board, a government official said on Thursday.

Foreign ministry spokesman Romain Nadal said the ministry's advice to French travellers going abroad was "updated according to changing conditions on the ground."

Asked at a daily e-briefing whether France would ban flights to and from the Peninsula, Nadal said "there are no direct flights between France and the Sinai."

Besides, on Oct. 31, the country's main flag carrier, Air France, suspended all scheduled flights to the region, according to Nadal.

On Saturday, the Airbus A321, operated by Russian airline Kogalymavia, disappeared from radar 23 minutes after taking off to the Russian city of St. Petersburg.

The tragedy is thought to have been caused by a bomb attack, according to reports.

In a statement posted on Twitter, affiliate group of the Islamic State (IS) "Sinai State" claimed responsibility for the crash as revenge for Russia's military offensive in Syria.

Declining to comment on the cause of the crash, Nadal said "an investigation is underway." Endit