SANAA, (Reuters) – The United States and Britain closed their embassies in Yemen yesterday over security concerns about possible militant attacks after the failed bombing of a U.S.-bound plane on Christmas Day.
The U.S. embassy cited threats by al Qaeda, which U.S. intelligence agencies believe has a growing presence in Yemen. In Washington, an aide to President Barack Obama said the United States had indications al Qaeda was planning an attack in Sanaa.
“We know that al Qaeda is out there. We know we have to mind our steps,” homeland security and counterterrorism aide John Brennan told CNN.
Yemen, facing a Shi’ite rebellion in the north and separatist protests in the south, has already tightened security on its coast to stop Islamist militants infiltrating from Somalia, and held talks with a U.S. general on strengthening cooperation.
Western allies have sought to bolster Yemen’s government for fear that al Qaeda might exploit its instability to launch more attacks across the globe. But Yemeni Foreign Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi said his government was not coordinating strikes against al Qaeda with the United States.
A Nigerian man, charged with trying to bomb a Detroit-bound passenger plane on Christmas Day, is believed to have received training from the militant group in Yemen.
Al Qaeda said the attempt was retaliation for U.S. involvement in Yemen and its military support for the state, which has launched an offensive against the militants.
Yemen’s government has put al Qaeda militants in two coastal provinces under round-the-clock surveillance, the state news agency said yesterday, after Somali militants said last week they were ready to send reinforcements to al Qaeda in Yemen.
The U.S. embassy told its Yemeni staff to stay in their homes yesterday, while a British Foreign Office spokeswoman cited security reasons for her embassy’s closure but declined to say if a specific threat had been made.
“The U.S. Embassy in Sanaa is closed today, January 3, 2010, in response to ongoing threats by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) to attack American interests in Yemen,” a statement on the embassy website said.
Spain’s embassy in Yemen has restricted access but remains open, the Spanish government said. El Mundo newspaper said the embassy would be closed to the public today.
U.S. officials have said Washington was looking at ways to expand military and intelligence cooperation with Yemen to step up pressure on al Qaeda militants in the Arabian Peninsula.
The United States and Britain have agreed to fund a counter-terrorism police unit as part of the effort.
Foreign Minister Qirbi, quoted by state media, said Yemen was exchanging information and training with foreign countries.
Asked if Yemen had agreed to allow U.S. missiles and aircraft to strike al Qaeda targets in Yemen, Qirbi said: “There is no agreement with the United States in this regard.”
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s office said Britain and the United States had agreed to intensify their joint work to tackle “the emerging terrorist threat” from both Yemen and Somalia in the wake of the failed plane attack.
Washington has already increased training, intelligence and military equipment provided to Yemeni forces, helping them to stage raids against suspected al Qaeda hideouts last month.
General David Petraeus, head of the U.S. Central Command, said last week that Washington would more than double its $70 million security assistance to Yemen.
Northern Shi’ite rebels from the Zaidi sect have been fighting government troops in Yemen’s mountainous north since 2004, complaining of marginalisation. The conflict has killed hundreds and displaced tens of thousands.