US embassy in Yemen closes on Al Qaeda threat

Yemeni staff at the embassy said they had been asked to stay in their homes.

"The US Embassy in Sana'a is closed today, January 3, 2010, in response to ongoing threats by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) to attack American interests in Yemen," said a statement on the embassy website.

US diplomats could not be reached for comment.

US officials said this week the United States was looking at ways to expand military and intelligence cooperation with the government of Yemen to increase pressure on al Qaeda militants in the Arabian Peninsula.

 A Nigerian man, who attempted and failed to bomb a US aircraft carrying 300 people on Christmas Day, is believed to have received training from the militant group in Yemen.

Al Qaeda said the attempted bombing was in retaliation to US involvement in Yemen and its military support for the Yemeni government, which launched an offensive against the Islamist group.