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| Arabia |
| Britain, Germany close posts in Yemen |
| 2013-08-03 |
| Fear of terrorist attacks on Friday prompted Britain and Germany to plan closings of diplomatic outposts in Yemen as London warned its citizens to leave the country, dpa reported. The British and German embassies are to be shuttered on Sunday and Monday. The move came as the United States issued a worldwide travel alert over terrorist threats and moved to close down 21 diplomatic posts in 17 countries on Sunday and possibly the following days. The US cautioned its citizens worldwide of the "continued potential" for al-Qaeda and groups allied with the terrorist network to mount attacks. The main threat emanated form the Arabian Peninsula, the US State Department said. Germany's diplomatic outposts in Yemen were to remain closed on Sunday and Monday out of security concerns, a spokesman for the foreign ministry in Berlin told dpa late Friday. He did not give further details or background. A spokeswoman in the British Foreign Office said its embassy in the Yemen capital of Sana'a would also be closed on the two days. The official said it was a "precautionary measure." The British Foreign Office warned British nationals to leave Yemen immediately, amid fears of escalating violence in the country. It warned that Britons who stay in Yemen would unlikely get help in being evacuated if things got worse. The German Foreign Ministry in Berlin did not change its travel warnings for German citizens, saying security measures were always adapted to the current security situation. "We are in close contacts with our allies," the spokesman said. |
| Posted by:Steve White |