RIYADH, May 18: Just a week after FBI Director Robert Mueller said in Riyadh that the United States would review the negative travel advisory to its citizens for Saudi Arabia, the US State department renewed the travel warning for the country this week.

On Tuesday the State Department advised US citizens to defer non-essential travel to Saudi Arabia. The United States mission in Saudi Arabia remains an unaccompanied post as a result of continued security concerns.

Non-emergency employees and all dependents of the US embassy in Riyadh and consulates in Jeddah and Dahran were ordered to leave the country on April 15. An armed attack on the Jeddah consulate occurred on Dec 6 last year, resulting in casualties among non-American employees and damage to consulate facilities.

The advisory suggested to those Americans who want to visit or stay in Saudi Arabia, to avoid staying in hotels or housing compounds that do not apply stringent security measures.