Western embassies re-open in Saudi Arabia

All Western embassies and consulates general in Saudi Arabia which closed on Wednesday for fear of fresh terrorist attacks have…

All Western embassies and consulates general in Saudi Arabia which closed on Wednesday for fear of fresh terrorist attacks have resumed normal business, spokesmen said today.

The US embassy and consulates, closed to the public since Wednesday after warning of credible information that terror attacks were "imminent," reopened to the public today, the US embassy said.

The embassies and consulates of Britain, Canada and Germany, which were shut for the same reason, resumed normal business yesterday, the first working day of the Muslim week, mission spokesmen said.

But all the embassies have warned their nationals living in the kingdom to remain cautious and restrict their movement to essential business.

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"The (US) embassy strongly advises American citizens in the kingdom to use extreme caution and to remain vigilant," the embassy said in a new message to US citizens resident in Saudi Arabia.

It added that "private Americans currently in Saudi Arabia should evaluate their own security situations, and should consider departing Saudi Arabia."

Other Western embassies issued similar warnings.

A large number of Western nationals are believed to have already left Saudi Arabia or are preparing to leave following the triple car bombings that left at least 25 people and nine bombers dead and 194 others wounded.

AFP