Trump signs new travel ban targeting six Muslim nations

Order also places a 120 day freeze on all refugee arrivals

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump signed a revised ban on travellers from six Muslim-majority nations Monday - one with a reduced scope so Iraqis and permanent US residents are exempt.

The White House said Trump signed the order - which temporarily freezes new visas for Syrians, Iranians, Libyans, Somalis, Yemenis and Sudanese citizens - behind closed doors "this morning".

The order places a 120 day freeze on all refugee arrivals.

Trump signs revised travel ban, exempting Iraqis, legal permanent residents and holders of existing valid visas https://t.co/tB9oLsONl6 pic.twitter.com/AWszl1Tkq9

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) March 6, 2017

The revised ban, which comes into effect on March 16, said the six countries were targeted because their screening and information capabilities could not meet US security requirements.

Officials said that, unlike in the initial January 27 executive order, all pre-existing, valid visas from the six countries would be honoured.

"The motivating factor here is a desire for greater security," said a senior State Department official.

The Trump administration's wide-ranging initial travel restrictions were slapped down by the federal courts, after sparking a legal, political and logistical furore.

The State Department cancelled 60,000 visas under the original order, and hundreds of people were reportedly detained at US airports.