Yemen/France - Al Qaeda threat

France closes embassy in Yemen

Article published on the 2010-01-04 Latest update 2010-01-05 07:14 TU

Soldiers inspect cars on a road in Sanaa
(Photo: Reuters/Khaled Abdullah)

France became the latest western power to tighten security against a possible Al-Qaeda terrorist threat in Yemen when it closed its embassy in the capital Sanaa on Monday. The US and the UK had both closed their embassies on Sunday.

"On January 3, our ambassador decided to no longer authorise public access to the premises of our diplomatic mission," French foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero told reporters.

He said French citizens in the country had been warned to remain vigilant and to limit their movements.

Yemeni forces are also on high alert around the airport and foreign embassies in the Sanaa amid fears of strikes by an Al-Qaeda branch linked to a failed attack on a US airliner.

US President Barack Obama has accused the Yemen-based Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) of arming and training a Nigerian accused of trying to blow up a Detroit-bound Northwest Airlines jet on Christmas Day.

AQAP claimed responsibility for the failed attack and called for strikes on embassies in Yemen.