Embassies in Yemen reopen after closures over threats

Soldiers on top of a truck patrol the road in front of the main entrance of the US Embassy in the capital San'a, Yemen. Several embassies in Yemen remained closed following a terror threat. File photo

The US embassy in the Yemeni capital, Sana’a, reopened to the public Tuesday after a two-day closure prompted by threats from the regional branch of al-Qaeda, an embassy official said.

“The embassy reopened today and resumed its normal operation,” the source said on the condition of anonymity.

The British and French embassies also reopened on Tuesday, but their consular sections remained closed to the public, diplomats at the two embassies said.

The US embassy had said earlier in a message posted on its website that is has closed “in response to ongoing threats by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula to attack American interests in Yemen.” Al-Qaeda’s arm in Yemen made headlines recently when it claimed responsibility for a December 25 attempt to blow up an airliner over the north-central US city of Detroit.

A Nigerian man allegedly tried to detonate explosives on board the flight from Amsterdam to Detroit but failed and was arrested.

US President Barack Obama on Saturday confirmed that al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula appeared to have trained, equipped and ordered Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, to attack the US-bound plane.