|
U.S. Closes Embassy in Yemen for 'Terrorist Threat'
WASHINGTON, June 9 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The United States closed Saturday its embassy in Yemen, authorized its non-essential diplomats and families of U.S. government employees to leave and warned Americans to avoid the country citing what it called "terrorist" threats.
The State Department "currently believes there is an increased terrorist threat to U.S. citizens and interests in Yemen," the department said in a statement that referred to last year's deadly attack on a U.S. naval vessel in the Yemeni port of Aden.
"As a result, the department has authorized the departure of embassy personnel in non-emergency positions and family members of embassy personnel," it said. "In addition, the U.S. embassy in Sanaa will suspend service to the public."
"All Americans in Yemen should consider this information, review their personal security situations and take those actions they deem appropriate to ensure their safety," the statement added.
The length of the embassy closure, put into effect on Saturday, was not given in the statement.
The exact nature of the increased terrorist threat to Americans in Yemen was not described, but the statement mentioned the October 12 bomb attack on the USS Cole in Aden as well as numerous kidnappings of foreigners in the country.
The State Department also said Americans have been victims of kidnappings in Yemen in 1999 and 2000.
Osama Bin Laden, a Saudi-born millionaire who is charged by the United States with masterminding the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in East Africa that killed more than 220 people, is also accused of using Yemen as a springboard for some of his attacks.
Bin Laden says he wants to see the withdrawal of all US troops from Muslim and Arab land. His associates have previously said bin Laden considered the extensive U.S. military presence in the Arab Gulf as an "occupation."
Late last month American military forces were reportedly on high alert in the same port city where the USS Cole was bombed last year, due to possible terrorist attacks, according to Pentagon officials.
ABCNEWS had reported that intelligence sources said there was a "serious and specific" terrorist threat to the few Americans who are still in Yemen's port of Aden. U.S. officials said several dozen Americans on the ground, including Justice Department personnel investigating the bombing from a hotel in Aden, have been ordered to pack their bags and be prepared to leave.
But the personnel will not be leaving Yemen. Rather, the investigation will continue at the U.S. embassy in the Yeman's capital, Sanaa, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher had told reporters.
The embassy closure today means the US has strong and specific information about a possible threat.
|
