This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/8438128.stm

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Alert shuts US, UK Yemen missions Al-Qaeda 'planning Yemen attack'
(about 1 hour later)
The US and Britain have shut their Yemen embassies after threats from an al-Qaeda offshoot linked to an alleged failed US plane bomb plot. The US has indications that al-Qaeda is planning an attack in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, President Barack Obama's top counter-terrorism adviser has said.
The UK Foreign Office told the BBC its embassy in the capital Sanaa was closed "for security reasons", hours after the US announced its mission had been shut. John Brennan was speaking after the US shut its embassy in Yemen. "We're not going to take any chances" with the lives of staff, he said.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown earlier said the UK and US would step up counter-terror efforts in Yemen. Britain also closed its embassy, after threats from an al-Qaeda offshoot which claimed a failed bomb plot in the US.
There are mounting fears lawless Yemen is becoming an al-Qaeda haven. There are mounting fears that Yemen is becoming a leading al-Qaeda haven.
The embassy closures follow last week's threat by a group called al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, urging Muslims to help in "killing every crusader who works at their embassies or other places". Mr Brennan, the White House Deputy National Security Adviser for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, said the threat against Americans and Westerners would not ease until the Sanaa government did more to tackle militants inside the country.
"We are very concerned about al-Qaeda's continued growth there," he said on Sunday, in remarks quoted by the the Associated Press news agency.
He added that the US believed the group was "planning to carry out an attack against a target inside of Sana, possibly our embassy".
Last week an organisation called al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula urged Muslims to help in "killing every crusader who works at their embassies or other places".
In an internet statement, the group also said it was behind an attempt to bomb a transatlantic airliner on Christmas Day.In an internet statement, the group also said it was behind an attempt to bomb a transatlantic airliner on Christmas Day.
YEMEN FACTS Population: 23.6 million (UN, 2009)Capital: SanaaLanguage: Arabic Major religion: IslamOil exports: $1.5bn/24.5m barrels (Jan-Oct 2009)Income per capita: US $950 (World Bank, 2008) Profile: Al-Qaeda in Yemen Attack stokes Yemen terror fears Country profile: Yemen Send us your commentsYEMEN FACTS Population: 23.6 million (UN, 2009)Capital: SanaaLanguage: Arabic Major religion: IslamOil exports: $1.5bn/24.5m barrels (Jan-Oct 2009)Income per capita: US $950 (World Bank, 2008) Profile: Al-Qaeda in Yemen Attack stokes Yemen terror fears Country profile: Yemen Send us your comments
On Saturday, President Barack Obama said the organisation appeared to have trained 23-year-old Nigerian accused Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who is being held in a US prison.On Saturday, President Barack Obama said the organisation appeared to have trained 23-year-old Nigerian accused Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who is being held in a US prison.
It was not clear when the UK or US embassies would reopen.It was not clear when the UK or US embassies would reopen.
In a brief statement on its website on Sunday, the US embassy said: "The US Embassy in Sanaa is closed today, January 3, 2010, in response to ongoing threats by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula to attack American interests in Yemen." In a statement on its website, the US embassy said it would be closed on Sunday "in response to ongoing threats by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula to attack American interests in Yemen".
The embassy also reminded US citizens in Yemen to be vigilant and aware of security. The embassy also reminded US citizens in Yemen to be aware of security.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said the British embassy was closed on Sunday and a decision would be taken later on whether to open it on Monday.A Foreign Office spokeswoman said the British embassy was closed on Sunday and a decision would be taken later on whether to open it on Monday.
Hours earlier, the British prime minister told the BBC: "This is a new type of threat and it is from a new source which is obviously Yemen, but there are many other potential sources Somalia, as well as Afghanistan and Pakistan." Hours earlier, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown told the BBC: "This is a new type of threat and it is from a new source which is obviously Yemen, but there are many other potential sources Somalia, as well as Afghanistan and Pakistan."
The US mission in Sanaa was the target of an attack in September 2008, which was blamed on al-Qaeda, and in which 19 people died, including a young American woman.The US mission in Sanaa was the target of an attack in September 2008, which was blamed on al-Qaeda, and in which 19 people died, including a young American woman.
Also on Saturday, Gen David Petraeus, head of US military operations in the Middle East and Central Asia, visited Yemeni President Ali Abdallah Saleh to pledge US support for its fight with al-Qaeda.Also on Saturday, Gen David Petraeus, head of US military operations in the Middle East and Central Asia, visited Yemeni President Ali Abdallah Saleh to pledge US support for its fight with al-Qaeda.
The visit came a day after the general announced that the US would more than double counter-terrorism aid to Yemen this year.The visit came a day after the general announced that the US would more than double counter-terrorism aid to Yemen this year.
The US provided $67m (£41m) in training and support to Yemen last year; only Pakistan receives more, with about $112m, according to AP news agency.The US provided $67m (£41m) in training and support to Yemen last year; only Pakistan receives more, with about $112m, according to AP news agency.
Yemeni officials said on Saturday they had sent more troops to fight al-Qaeda militants in the provinces of Abyan, Baida and Shabwa.Yemeni officials said on Saturday they had sent more troops to fight al-Qaeda militants in the provinces of Abyan, Baida and Shabwa.
Yemeni security forces have been fighting militantsYemeni security forces have been fighting militants
"These measures are part of operations to hunt down elements of al-Qaeda... and tighten the noose around extremists," a Yemeni official told AFP news agency."These measures are part of operations to hunt down elements of al-Qaeda... and tighten the noose around extremists," a Yemeni official told AFP news agency.
Analysts say the US has also provided intelligence to Yemeni forces, which carried out raids last month that reportedly left dozens of militants dead.Analysts say the US has also provided intelligence to Yemeni forces, which carried out raids last month that reportedly left dozens of militants dead.
In his weekly address on Saturday, President Obama said militant training camps in Yemen had already "been struck, leaders eliminated, plots disrupted".In his weekly address on Saturday, President Obama said militant training camps in Yemen had already "been struck, leaders eliminated, plots disrupted".
Yemen was thrust to the top of the Western security agenda in October 2000, when 17 US sailors died in an al-Qaeda suicide attack on the USS Cole destroyer in the port of Aden. Correspondents say the security situation in Yemeni is complicated by an abundance of firearms, an insurgency in the north and a secessionist movement in the south.
Correspondents say the Yemeni government needs economic as well as military aid.
With a fast-growing and impoverished population, the country is facing diminishing water reserves and the likelihood that its only source of income, oil, will run dry in a few years.
But security is just as big a challenge, complicated by an abundance of firearms, an insurgency in the north and a secessionist movement in the south.
While the government is weak and unpopular in much of the country, the US has little choice but to work through it to fight al-Qaeda as any overt US presence would almost certainly provoke a public backlash.
But the prospects of re-asserting central government authority over the lawless areas where al-Qaeda is based look, in the opinion of some analysts, remote - even with beefed-up American support.But the prospects of re-asserting central government authority over the lawless areas where al-Qaeda is based look, in the opinion of some analysts, remote - even with beefed-up American support.