Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, November 07, 2002
US Embassy in Yemen Shut Down
The United States Embassy in Sanaa was indefinitely shut down on Wednesday under a decision made by the US State Department due to "security concerns," according to western diplomatic sources in Sanaa.
The United States Embassy in Sanaa wasindefinitely shut down on Wednesday under a decision made by the US State Department due to "security concerns," according to western diplomatic sources in Sanaa.
The State Department also decided to tighten security around theembassy building and place concrete block in front of the main gate.
The department is reportedly planning to take further security measures around the embassy.
Meanwhile, the embassy warned US citizens in Yemen to maintain vigilance against potential terrorist threats in the coming days.
The decision to shut down the embassy was made three days after a US unmanned drone fired missiles on a car carrying six suspected members of al Qaeda terror network, and killed them on the spot in Al-Mufaj Mount in the eastern Yemeni province of Maareb.
On Wednesday, Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Kurbi met US Ambassador to Yemen Edmond Hall, but no details were revealed abouttheir discussions.
In April 2002, the US Embassy in Sanaa also temporarily shut down.