Yemen/US/UK - Al-Qaeda threat

US, Britain close Yemen embassies

Article published on the 2010-01-03 Latest update 2010-01-03 16:06 TU

The US Embassy in Sanaa after an attack in September 2008
(Photo: Reuters)

The US and Britain closed their embassies in Yemen on Sunday amid threats from a local branch of Al-Qaeda. The US, however, has insisted that it is not considering a new military front against Al-Qaeda in Yemen and has no plans to send troops there.

Spain said it would tighten public access to its embassy but would not close the mission at present.

"There are indications that Al-Qaeda is planning to carry out an attack against (a) target inside of Sanaa, possibly our embassy, and what we do is to take every measure possible to ensure the safety of our diplomats and citizens abroad," said US’ Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Adviser John Brennan on American television channel CNN.

"So the decision was made to close the embassy. We're working very closely with the Yemeni government on taking the proper security precautions."

The moves came after US President Barack Obama blamed a Yemen-based Al-Qaeda affiliate for the foiled Christmas Day attack on a US airliner and a day after US regional military commander General David Petraeus visited the Yemeni capital Sanaa.

Claiming responsibility for the thwarted attack on the Detroit-bound Northwest airliner, Al-Qaeda's franchise in Yemen urged attacks on embassies and other Western targets in Yemen.

"We call upon every Muslim who cares about his religion and doctrine to assist in expelling the apostasies from the Arabian Peninsula, by killing every crusader who works at their embassies or other places, declare it an all-out war against every crusader on Mohammad's peninsula on land, air and sea," an Al-Qaida statement said.

The embassies were closed for security reasons but could reopen on Monday.

News of the Al-Qaeda threats and the closure of the embassies comes after London and Washington agreed to fund Yemen's special Counter-Terrorism Unit - a special force which in the past has received US training and assistance.

"Yemen has been recognised, like Somalia, to be one of the areas where we've got to not only keep an eye on but we've got to do more," British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Sunday.

Yemen, which is the ancestral homeland of Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, has welcomed the British and US funding decision.

"Any assistance provided to Yemen's counter-terrorism force will be most welcome," a government official told press agency AFP, adding that Sanaa would also need help to modernise its coastguard because of the "danger" from Somalia.

Somalia's Shebab insurgents pledged on Friday to send militants across the Gulf of Aden to Yemen to help the Al-Qaeda affiliate.

While the US is heightening its security measures in Yemen, Brennan ruled out the possibility of sending in troops.

"I wouldn't say we're opening a second front. This is a continuation of an effort that we had underway, as I said, since the beginning of the (Obama) administration," he said.

"We're not going to let Al-Qaeda continue to make gains in Yemen because we need to take whatever steps necessary to protect our citizens there as well as abroad."

Britain has called an international meeting on combating extremism in Yemen for London on 28 January, in parallel with a conference on Afghanistan drawing senior ministers or leaders from over 40 nations.