| All of Central America is on alert for a possible al-Qaeda attack against El Salvador for its support of the U.S.-led mission in Iraq, the head of the Nicaraguan army said Friday. Attending a military celebration, Gen. Javier Carrion said Nicaragua's security commission has determined that at least two threats against nearby El Salvador are "real." He said the threats appeared on the Internet. "There is a direct and particular threat against El Salvador," he said. Across Central America security has been tightened at airports and embassies in a bid to avert any possible attack. Honduran Security Minister Oscar Alvarez said Sunday his country declared a national alert after receiving information that al-Qaeda was trying to recruit Hondurans to attack embassies of the United States, Britain, Spain and El Salvador. The purported al-Qaeda plot was directly linked to the war in Iraq, which is why it targeted the United States, Britain and El Salvador, Alvarez said. All three countries are still involved in Iraq. However, it was unclear why Spain was targeted since Madrid pulled its troops out of Iraq earlier this year. Honduras withdrew its 370 soldiers in April. In July, Alvarez said a Saudi-born terror suspect sought by U.S. officials was spotted earlier this year at an Internet cafe in the Honduran capital before fleeing the country. Shukrijumah, 29, apparently entered Honduras illegally from Nicaragua or Panama. |