April 24, 2008	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 17, 1429

COPENHAGEN, April 23: Denmark and The Netherlands have moved all the staff from their embassies in Afghanistan to secret locations because of concerns about their security, Foreign Ministry officials said on Wednesday.

Denmark moved the staff out of its embassy in Algeria a few days ago for the same reason.

“There was a change in the security situation and we decided that it was necessary...” said Danish Foreign Ministry spokesman Erik Laursen, saying the decision was based on new intelligence.

The Danish embassy staff in Kabul were moved on Wednesday and continue to work remotely, Laursen said. He could not say how long the staff of the two embassies would remain at their new locations.

Dutch embassy personnel in Kabul were moved to secret locations on Monday because the terror threat had risen, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

On Friday, the son of the new chief of the Dutch military and another Dutch soldier serving with Nato-led forces were killed when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the blast.

The Netherlands has also moved its embassy in Islamabad to a hotel because of concern about security following the release of an anti-Quran film by a Dutch politician.

The Danish Security and Intelligence Service warned earlier this month of a heightened level of terror threats against Danish interests in North Africa, the Middle East, Pakistan and Afghanistan. It said the threat level had risen since Danish newspapers reprinted an old and controversial caricature of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him).

Denmark, meanwhile, said it could close embassies in other countries as well. “I cannot rule out closing other embassies, because there is a general threat from Al Qaeda.

“They have cells and sympathisers around the world who look to carry out attacks,” Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller told Danish television station TV2 News.—Agencies