Some 144 U.S. citizens ready to leave East Kalimantan

Some 144 U.S. citizens in East Kalimantan are ready to leave the province if anti-U.S. sentiments, which has plagued the country over the past five days, worsens, according to head of the provincial justice ministry, which also overseas the immigration office.

Pandu Nusawan was quoted by the Metro Balikpapan daily as saying that the U.S. citizens had already processed the necessary documents and would immediately leave the province if the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta made such instruction.

?All U.S. citizens will only leave the area if there is such instruction from the embassy,? he said.

Anti U.S.-protest has intensified in Indonesia following the U.S.-led air strikes on Afghanistan. Certain radical groups have threatened to expel the Americans and Britons.(*)