The United States has warned its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Thailand and began evacuating non-essential embassy staff and families due to unrest in the country.

“US citizens should defer all travel to Bangkok and defer all non-essential travel to the rest of Thailand,” a statement said.

“The Department of State has authorized the departure of all non-emergency US government personnel and eligible family members from Bangkok,” the statement added.

The US Thursday closed its embassy in Bangkok and said it was “very concerned” about the violence between the Thai government and protesters there.

The Nation