US renews travel advisory after Kenya mall attack

The US government has renewed its travel alert against making trips to Kenya, warning Americans of the risks following the recent terror attack that killed 67 people in the East African country.

"The levels of risk vary throughout the country. Terrorist acts can include suicide operations, bombings, kidnappings, attacks on civil aviation, and attacks on maritime vessels in or near Kenyan ports," reported Xinhua citing the US State Department in a statement.

A group of gunmen of Somalia-based Al-Shabaab stormed the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi a week ago, causing the heaviest casualties since the US embassy in Kenya was attacked in 1998.

Kenyan officials have appealed to the international community not to issue travel advisories against their country, but to work with the government to ensure the return of normalcy.