WASHINGTON, Jan 14: The United States embassy in Sanaa suspended consular services on Monday after receiving “terrorist threats” that a senior US official said were related to the Al Qaeda network, the State Department said.

Spokesman Richard Boucher said Yemeni authorities had informed the embassy of a heightened risk for anti-American attacks in the country and that US officials in Sanaa and Washington had decided to suspend the services because of it.

“The Yemenis have told us that they believe there’s an increased threat at this time to US interests in Yemen and we concur with that assessment,” he said.

Boucher declined to say what the nature of the threat was but a senior department official said it was linked to Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda.

“It is al-Qaeda related,” the official said.

Earlier Monday in Sanaa, the embassy sent a message to Americans in Yemen warning them of the new threat and the suspension in consular services.

“In response to this increased threat, the embassy is taking a number of additional security measures,” it said, noting the suspension of immigrant visa and routine services for US citizens.

A Yemeni police official said the embassy had suspended its consular services “after receiving terrorist threats” and a western diplomat confirmed that threats had been made against US interests in the country.

“This measure was taken following threats” from unidentified parties, the diplomat said.

“Security was stepped up around the embassy ... and part of the road leading to the mission was blocked to traffic,” a witness told AFP.

Terrorist threats against US interests prompted a four-week closure of the embassy in Sanaa last June and July.

The embassy message urged US citizens in Yemen to be vigilant for possible attacks.—AFP