US embassy in Yemen closed after al Qaeda threat

The US today closed its embassy in Yemen, citing "ongoing threats" by al Qaeda, and asked its citizens to "maintain a high level of vigilance", following the botched attempt to blow up a US airliner on Christmas Day.

"The US embassy in San'a is closed today, January 3, 2010, in response to ongoing threats by al Qaeda in the Arabain Peninsula (AQAP) to attack American interests in Yemen," the embassy posted the message on its website.

The closure of the embassy follows a warden message sent on Thursday to US citizens staying in Yemen, reminding them of persisting threat to their lives after the failed December 25 bombing attempt on a Detroit-bound US airliner by a 23-year old Nigerian, who received training and instructions from al Qaeda operatives in the country.

"The US embassy reminds US citizens to maintain a high level of vigilance and to practice enhanced security awareness", the website posted, without any mention of the date to re-open.

US president Barack Obama sent his top Middle East general David Petraeus yesterday to meet Yemen president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

"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," said an AQAP statement on Monday.