TERROR ALERT KEEPS US AND WESTERN MISSIONS SHUT

Washington, 28 Ramadan 1434/6 August 2013 (MINA) – Security was tight at US missions around the Arab world on Sunday as Washington held urgent talks on an Al-Qaeda threat that prompted it to close two dozen embassies and consulates.

Measures were particularly strict in Yemen’s capital, where Britain, France and Germany also closed their embassies following a US warning, Saudi Gazette quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

But the US alert spread across most Arab capitals and extended further afield to Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Israel, with embassies and other diplomatic missions closed on Sunday, the first day of the working week in many Islamic countries.

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In Sana’a, special forces with armored personnel carriers were stationed outside the US embassy and the missions of Britain, France and Germany. Police and army checkpoints were set up on all the Yemeni capital’s main streets. Residents said they heard the sound of a drone flying over. In Jordan, authorities beefed up security around the closed US mission.

“Authorities have conducted a sweep for explosives at all US diplomatic locations and beefed up security measures around the US embassy,” a Jordanian security official said.

US National Security Adviser Susan Rice chaired White House talks to review Washington’s response to the threat it revealed on Friday of a major attack by Al-Qaeda during the month of August in the Middle East or North Africa.

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President Barack Obama did not attend but was briefed afterwards.

Although the United States has responded to terrorist threats before by closing diplomatic missions, this was believed to be the most widespread closure ever, covering at least 25 embassies and consulates across the Muslim world and nearby nations. (T/P09/E1).

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).