Middle East News

Police open fire at car outside US embassy in Yemen (2nd Roundup)

Jan 26, 2009, 20:36 GMT

Sana'a, Yemen - Policemen manning a barricade outside the US embassy in Sana'a on Monday opened fire at a car Monday, but there were no casualties reported, an interior ministry official confirmed.

'Policemen fired warning shots after a car passed the blockade outside the embassy,' the official, who asked not to be named, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

The official said three people were in the car, and an initial investigation revealed that the vehicle did not intentionally pass the police barrier.

A security source had said earlier that police chased the car after gunmen in the vehicle fired at the barricade and fled.

The incident took place hours after the embassy said it had received a threat of 'possible attack' against its compound and asked US citizens in Yemen to exercise caution.

'The US embassy has received a threat against the embassy compound regarding a possible attack which could take place in the foreseeable future,' the embassy said on its website.

'US citizens in Yemen are advised to exercise caution and take prudent security measures in all areas frequented by Westerners,' the message said.

It asked Americans to maintain a 'high level of vigilance,' avoid crowds and keep a low profile.

Witnesses said police closed a street near the embassy in eastern Sana'a and dozens of police personnel were deployed around the compound.

The reported threat comes three days after the leader of al-Qaeda in Yemen, Nasser al-Waheishi alias Abu Bassir, threatened to carry out attacks against US and Western interests in the Arabian Peninsula.

'We will cut supply lines of the US forces in the Arabian Peninsula and attack Westerners and Western interests until America stops its support to the Jews,' al-Waheishi said in a rare video posted on Islamist web sites on Friday.

Last September, the US embassy was hit by a suicide car bombing, the deadliest attack on a foreign embassy in Yemen since the October 2000 bombing of the warship USS Cole in the southern Yemen port of Aden, which left 17 sailors dead and 32 wounded.

Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the embassy attack that left 18 people dead, including six militants.

A mortar attack last March targeted the embassy, injuring three police officers and four girls in a neighbouring school.

A similar attack targeted a residential compound housing US and Western citizens in April - no one was hurt. Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for both attacks.

After the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the US, Yemen allied itself with the US-led 'war on terror' and pursued suspected members of al-Qaeda, putting scores of them on trial.



COMMENT

blog comments powered by Disqus

Latest Headlines in Middle East

Older Talkback

Follow Us

Follow M&C on Pinterest

Search

Custom Search

Also Check Out

Elvis Presley's tomb for sale

Elvis Presleys tomb for sale
The chance to be buried in the same tomb where Elvis Presley was originally placed after his death is up for auction. ... more

Bar Refaeli wants to 'marry' Justin Bieber

Bar Refaeli wants to marry Justin Bieber
Bar Refaeli wants to 'marry' Justin Bieber, and also admits having a crush on Tom Cruise. ... more

Chris Brown selling house

Chris Brown selling house
Chris Brown is selling his West Hollywood bachelor pad for £1.8 million, just 15 months after he bought it, following a number of disputes with his neighbours. ... more

Rihanna wants to swap breasts

Rihanna wants to swap breasts
Rihanna wants to 'borrow' her 'Battleship' co-star Brooklyn Decker's boobs. ... more

Justin Bieber loved up with Selena

Justin Bieber loved up with Selena
Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez looked 'more in love than ever' on a recent lunch date. ... more

Simon Cowell blasts The Voice

Simon Cowell blasts The Voice
Simon Cowell has taken a swipe at 'The Voice' telling an unsuccessful 'X Factor' contestant to try auditioning for that show instead. ... more

Delta Goodrem opens up about Brian split

Delta Goodrem opens up about Brian split
Delta Goodrem said she 'didn't know how to get out' of her six and a half year relationship with Brian McFadden. ... more

Cynthia Nixon weds longtime partner

Cynthia Nixon weds longtime partner
Happy news for Cynthia Nixon and her longtime partner Christine Marinoni, parents of Max Ellington Nixon-Marinoni. The couple wed this weekend. ... more

David Beckham likes to bite Harper

David Beckham likes to bite Harper
David Beckham likes to bite his 10-month-old baby daughter, Harper, because she's so adorable. ... more

Jessica Biel is 'one of the guys'

Jessica Biel is one of the guys
Justin Timberlake's friends like his fiancee Jessica Biel because she's 'one of the guys', says his former *NSYNC bandmate Lance Bass. ... more