World Terror Risk "On the Rise"

BBC

Iraq is by far the most dangerous country to do business - but global terrorism is also making the rest of the world riskier, a new survey says.

Danger has risen in 31 nations, many of them in western Europe, insurance broker Aon says in a new risk map. Former hot spots East Timor and Western Sahara were among just five places where risk levels went down in 2004.Despite a lack of terror attacks in richer nations, the threat has not gone away, Aon warns. Aon's map, published for the second year running, divides the world into five categories of risk - low, guarded, elevated, high and severe.

Since last year, Iraq has shot from fifth to first place in the rankings, with 2,922 terror incidents recorded in the 12 months to February 2005. Other countries where the risk is considered severe include India, Pakistan, Israel and the Palestinian territories, Saudi Arabia and Colombia. They are joined by Nepal and Somalia, which have been upgraded to the worst category since the 2004 survey.