US holds high-level terror threat meeting

The White House has held a high-level meeting about terror fears that have led the US to issue a travel alert, and several countries to close embassies.

The White House has held a high-level meeting about terror fears that prompted Washington to issue a travel alert and order its embassies across the Islamic world closed temporarily.

Those attending Saturday's gathering, chaired by National Security Advisor Susan Rice, included Secretary of State John Kerry, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

Also present were the heads of the CIA, FBI and National Security Agency, as well as the US ambassador to the United Nations, the White House said.

President Barack Obama was not present but was briefed about the meeting afterwards, it said in a statement.

"Early this week, the president instructed his National Security team to take all appropriate steps to protect the American people in light of a potential threat occurring in or emanating from the Arabian Peninsula," the statement said.

Regular meetings were held throughout the week by Lisa Monaco, assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism to ensure appropriate steps were being taken, it said.

Saturday's meeting, it added, was intended to "further review the situation and follow-up actions".

Interpol says it suspects al-Qaeda was involved in recent jailbreaks across nine countries, including Iraq, Libya and Pakistan.

The global police agency said in a statement on Saturday the jailbreaks had "led to the escape of hundreds of terrorists and other criminals" in the past month alone, and that it has issued a security alert.

It is also asking its 190 member countries to help "determine whether any of these recent events are co-ordinated and linked" and to immediately convey any intelligence which could help prevent another attack.

Germany, France and Britain have also announced their embassies in Yemen will be closed on Sunday and Monday for security reasons.

Interpol noted that August is the anniversary of attacks in India, Russia and Indonesia.

This week also marks the 15th anniversary of the US embassy bombings in the Kenyan capital Nairobi and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, that killed more than 200 mostly African citizens and injured thousands.


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Source: AAP



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