Italy warned against traveling to Mali on Wednesday due to security concerns. The government is under increasing pressure by insurgents linked to al Qaeda, who are imposing a blockade of fuel.

The Italian Foreign Ministry has urged Italian nationals in Mali to leave as soon as they can. It noted that a severe shortage of fuel in the West African nation could worsen the security situation in Bamako, the capital.

The United States issued a similar warning to its citizens Tuesday.

Early September, militants from Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam and Muslimin announced a ban on fuel imports into the landlocked West African nation. Since then, they have attacked convoys of tankers trying to enter the country and reach Bamako.

(source: Reuters)