U.S. reopens embassy in Yemen

BEIRUT — Washington reopened its diplomatic outpost in Yemen
on Tuesday after shuttering it for two days because of “credible
information that pointed to imminent terrorist attacks,” said a
statement posted on the website of the U.S. Embassy in Sana, the capital.

The U.S., Japan and several European nations shut their embassies this week amid worries about rising al-Qaida activity on the troubled Arabian Peninsula. Western intelligence and counter-terrorism officials have put a spotlight on Yemen after the suspect in the attempted Christmas Day bombing of a Northwest Airlines flight asserted that he was handed his instructions by a cleric in Yemen.

U.S. officials said they reopened the embassy
Tuesday because a Yemeni counter-terrorism operation on Monday
“addressed a specific area of concern.” Yemeni officials reportedly
killed two and injured two suspected al-Qaida operatives in the Arabian Peninsula on Monday. On Tuesday, the Interior Ministry said it had arrested five other “terror elements” in and around the capital and Hudaydah province.

The ministry said it had beefed up security measures
around foreign embassies and residential districts favored by the
international community in Sana, according to Yemen’s
official Saba news agency. An unnamed official told Saba that security
forces had imposed a “cordon” and round-the-clock surveillance around
al-Qaida militants.

“Security protections for embassies are at a high
standard of counteraction performance in case of any repulsive
attempt,” an official told Saba on Tuesday.

“The Ministry of Interior emphasizes that
all embassies, diplomatic missions and foreign companies are fully
secured and there is nothing to be worried about,” the official
reportedly said. “Security is maintained and there is no fear for the
life of any foreigner or any foreign embassy in the country.”

Still, U.S. officials urged Americans living in Yemen not to take any chances.

“The threat of terrorist attacks against American interests remains high and the Embassy continues to urge its citizens in Yemen to be vigilant and take prudent security measures,” a statement said.

—

(c) 2010, Los Angeles Times.

Visit the Los Angeles Times on the Internet at http://www.latimes.com/

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.