Inco moves some employees as Canada issues Indonesian travel advisory: Report

Toronto-based nickel miner Inco Limited has moved some workers out of an Indonesian province that the Canadian government said travelers should avoid due to possible terrorist activity, CBC News Online of Canada reported.

The mining company said it has moved some staff of its subsidiary, PT International Nickel Indonesia Tbk, from the province of South Sulawesi to other locations.

"The safety of our employees is our top priority in these types of situations," Inco chairman and CEO Scott Hand said Monday.

"We will continuously monitor the situation with the assistance of the Indonesian and Canadian governments," Hand said.

PT Inco's operations are proceeding normally and the company does not currently expect that the situation will disrupt its operations, Inco said in a release.

On Sunday, the Canadian government told travelers to avoid the area.

"There is a credible terrorist threat to western interests in South Sulawesi province," the federal government said on its consular affairs web site.

"Canadians should not travel to this area until further notice. Canadians already in this area should depart. Religious tensions around [the town of] Poso have eased, but the situation remains tense and there are occasional episodes of related violence," the Canadian government said.

The Australian government has issued a similar warning for its citizens to avoid travel in Indonesia. (*)