Embassy closure
January 4, 2010
France has closed the doors of its embassy in the Yemeni capital Sanaa indefinitely, after threats of a militant attack surfaced in the wake of a failed terrorist attack on a transatlantic flight last week.
"On January 3, our ambassador decided to no longer authorize public access to the premises of our diplomatic mission," foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero told reporters.
The French foreign ministry said security had already been high at its embassy in Sanaa and that the ambassador there had warned all French citizens to "remain vigilant amidst the threats and to limit their movements."
France follows suit
Yemeni forces reacted to recent threats by an al-Qaeda group by tightening security at the airport in Sanaa and also around embassies.
Nevertheless, the US and Britain shut their embassies in Sanaa on Sunday for what they said were reasons of security.
US President Barack Obama has accused the Yemen-based terror group "al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)" of arming and training the Nigerian man accused of attempting to blow up a Detroit-bound Northwest Airlines jet on Christmas Day.
AQAP claimed responsibility for the failed attack and said it would carry out further strikes on embassies in Yemen.
glb/AFP/Reuters
Editor: Susan Houlton