US: The United States imposed a travel ban on US military personnel in Saudi Arabia yesterday in response to what it said were continued signs that militants could be preparing attacks.
The ban follows a US warning last Wednesday that militants might strike in the world's biggest oil exporter. The US embassy said at the time it did not know when, where or how the attack might take place.
"In response to continued indications of operational planning for a terrorist attack or attacks in the kingdom, US military personnel stationed in Saudi Arabia have been instructed to suspend all non-duty-related leisure travel outside of their work or housing," an embassy spokesman said.
"As noted in the message of July 20th the embassy has no specific information concerning the timing, target or method."
Most US forces stationed in Saudi Arabia since the 1990-1991 Gulf crisis were withdrawn in 2003, but military personnel guard the US embassy in the capital Riyadh and serve as advisers to Saudi forces.
Saudi Arabia is battling a two-year wave of violence by supporters of Saudi-born al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
Shortly after last week's US embassy warning, Saudi authorities said they had found an arms cache south of the capital where they said militants had stored two tonnes of bomb-making chemicals and equipment.
Diplomats said the discovery of the bomb factory was not linked to the US warning, which was based instead on an increase in militant "chatter".
Security around Riyadh has been stepped up in recent days, with extra police cars stationed at the housing compounds where Westerners live.
The walled compounds are already ringed with concrete barriers and national guard forces.