US issues global travel alert over security concerns

Foreign 2013-08-03 11:11

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The United States issued a global travel alert over possible terrorist attacks Friday, one day after it announced the closure of some diplomatic missions in the Middle East and North Africa over the coming weekend. "The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens to the continued potential for terrorist attacks," the department said in a travel alert posted on its website. The potential for terrorism was particularly acute in the Middle East and North Africa, with a possible attack occurring on or coming from the Arabian Peninsula, it added. "Current information suggests that al-Qaida and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks both in the region and beyond, and that they may focus efforts to conduct attacks in the period between now and the end of August," the State Department said. It warned of possible terrorist attacks on public transportation systems and other tourist infrastructure, adding that the United States is working closely with other nations on the threat. In Manama, the U.S. embassy to Bahrain said in an advisory that due to its closure on the coming Sunday, U.S. citizen services and visa appointments have been rescheduled on an individual basis. The embassy advised U.S. citizens in the Gulf Arab nation to avoid areas of large gatherings, warning that "even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence." In Abu Dhabi, the U.S. embassy to the United Arab Emirates said the closure of its office and the consulate general in Dubai is a "precautionary step" based on security concerns and instructions of the U.S. State Department. The embassy said it is possible that "we may have additional days of closings as well, depending on our analysis." A total of 21 U.S. embassies and consulates across the Muslim world will be closed through the weekend, in particular on Sunday, a workday in Muslim countries, after State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf warned of security and safety threats. Harf told reporters on Thursday that the decision was taken "out of an abundance of caution and care for our employees and others who may be visiting our installations." After the United States announced the temporary closure of some of its foreign missions, Britain said it will also close its embassy in Yemen on Sunday and Monday driven by "increased security concerns" as a precautionary measure. The Foreign Office said in a statement that it has withdrawn a number of staff from Yemen and advised British nationals against all travel there as security situation was particularly concerned in the final days of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month which ends on Wednesday evening. The statement did not mention any specific threats but said that the Foreign Office constantly reviewed the security of staff and its embassies.

In Brussels, European Commission spokesman Alexandre Polack said the European Union would be taking "all necessary precautions" following the U.S. announcement. "We are aware of the move by the U.S. and we are in contact with our U.S. counterparts," Polack said. "Delegations of the EU in the affected region are liaising with U.S. embassies." Last year, the United States issued a warning cautioning its diplomatic facilities throughout the Muslim world of possible violence linked to the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2011. Dozens of U.S. foreign missions came under attack last September over a U.S.-made movie that insulted Islam. On Sept. 11, 2012, U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens and three other Americans were killed in one of such attacks in the country's eastern city of Benghazi.