Patrols beefed up across Sanaa US Embassy closed, fears more attacks [Archives:2002/18/Front Page]

SANAA The U.S. Embassy kept its doors closed this past week because of a threat of more attacks against American interests in the Gulf region.
Meanwhile, security in the streets of Sanaa was beefed up, with patrols commonly seen on main streets, in trucks manned with guns on the back.
The embassy closed on Tuesday and Wednesday after warning Americans of possible terrorist activities against U.S. interests in Yemen on or about April 23. Thursday and Friday are the routine days it stays closed for the weekend.
A State Department statement from Washington said the embassy will continue in the meantime to review its security posture. It did not say when the embassy would reopen to the public.
The embassy has repeatedly warned Americans to avoid parts of the capital and itself became a target of anti-American sentiment on March 15 when a Yemeni man threw two devices at the embassy wall. They exploded but caused little damage.
The United States believes followers of Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden, accused of masterminding the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, are hiding in remote parts of Yemen.
Yemeni authorities are trying to shake off the countrys image as a haven for militancy and, with U.S. support, have launched a crackdown on supporters of bin Laden.
But officials have their hands full in trying to control al-Qaeda supporters. A group calling themselves Sympathizers of al-Qaeda have given the government until next week to release almost 173 detainees suspected of being involved in terrorist-type activities.
The group has claimed responsibility for a bomb blast near the governments Public Security Office two weeks ago, and has claimed it will step up such attacks without the release of the detainees.
Meanwhile, reports of a gun fight near the embassy on April 25 suggest one person was injured.
Thursdays gun fight was reported to be between members of the military police and guards of the director of Sawan Tourist Citys General Hamud Raheeb.
The fight apparently started after the security director claimed possession of land in the area. Police denied him the claim.

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