The US ordered nonessential diplomats out of Saudi Arabia on Thursday and warned all Americans they should leave, citing fresh signals that attacks are planned on US and Western interests.
The decision requires the families of all diplomats at the US Embassy in Riyadh and consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran to leave the kingdom, which is battling a wave of violence believed linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.
At least 50 people died last year in suicide bomb attacks on housing compounds in Riyadh. On Tuesday, suspected Muslim militants killed four Saudi police officers at checkpoints soon after security forces defused two car bombs in the capital.
"The US government has received recent and credible information indicating that extremists are planning further attacks against US and Western interests," the State Department said in a travel warning.
"The Department of State warns US citizens to defer travel to Saudi Arabia. Private American citizens currently in Saudi Arabia are strongly urged to depart," the warning said.
"We are concerned. The threat level has gone up," US Secretary of State Colin Powell said.
Washington has repeatedly moved to reduce its diplomatic presence in Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, and has then allowed diplomats and family members back in response to the ebb and flow of threats over the past year.
On Feb. 20, the US announced it had allowed all workers and family members to return to the kingdom. On Thursday, the State Department repeated past warnings that residential compounds in Riyadh and the rest of the country continue to be targeted.
A US intelligence official said the latest move was unrelated to the broadcast of an audiotape purportedly by Saudi-born bin Laden offering a truce to Europeans if they withdrew troops from Muslim nations, but vowing to continue fighting the US and Israel.
The State Department's expected decision is connected to "terrorist threats in Saudi [Arabia].
Potential attacks against [Western] diplomatic compounds. Car bombs, truck bombs," the official said on condition of anonymity.
In a "warden message" sent to US citizens in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, the embassy also cited continued threats to diplomatic facilities and housing compounds in the Saudi capital and urged Americans to be vigilant.
The US-Saudi alliance, built on the twin pillars of security and oil, has been strained since Sept. 11, 2001, when attacks on New York and Washington were carried out by al-Qaeda. Most of the hijackers were Saudis.
US officials initially complained they were not getting enough cooperation from Riyadh on fighting al-Qaeda, but they say Saudi efforts have increased dramatically since car bombs on May 12 ripped apart three Riyadh housing compounds and killed 35 people.
Eight Americans were among those killed in the attacks.
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