U.S. closes Manila embassy after threat<\/p>\n
PHILIPPINES: The U.S. Embassy in Manila temporarily shut its
\ndoors on Tuesday after a security threat, with Philippine police
\nwarning of potential suicide bombings by Jamaah Islamiyah, a
\nregional network of militants linked to al-Qaeda.<\/p>\n
The embassy did not specify the "plausible threat information"
\nin a statement on its Website -- http:\/\/manila.usembassy.gov.<\/p>\n
Television channel ANC quoted a guard at the embassy as saying
\na mobile phone text message was received on Monday night from
\nsomeone named "Evita" threatening to blow up the embassy.<\/p>\n
The Philippine government, fighting homegrown Muslim and
\ncommunist insurgencies as well as Jamaah Islamiyah, is a staunch
\nsecurity ally to Washington.<\/p>\n
But anti-American sentiment in the Philippines, a former U.S.
\ncolony, has risen in recent weeks with six visiting U.S. soldiers
\nbeing investigated over allegations they raped a Philippines
\nwoman on Nov. 1 after joint military exercises.<\/p>\n
"An attack on any U.S. embassy in the world is every Islamic
\nmilitant's dream," said a Philippine intelligence official,
\nadding that two leading foreign militants hiding on the southern
\nisland of Mindanao wanted Indonesians to carry out attacks.<\/p>\n
Citing information shared by Jakarta, the police official said
\nDulmatin and Umar Patek had asked a contact in central Java,
\nAbdullah Sunata, to send Indonesian recruits to Mindanao to
\nlaunch suicide bombings in the Philippines. --Reuters<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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