U.S. embassy reopens after terror threat

U.S. embassy reopens after terror threat

The United States embassy here and the consulate in Surabaya
reopened on Monday after four working days closed as a result of
a terrorist threat from the al-Qaeda network.

Dozens of people were seen queuing at the embassy to arrange
documents, while heavily armed police stood guard outside the
building located on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan, Central Jakarta.

But U.S. diplomats here warned American citizens to still
avoid facilities associated with the U.S. embassy and the
consulate unless their visits were absolutely necessary. This was
because the information about a security threat "remains serious
and compelling".

The two U.S. missions were closed on Sept. 10 due to what the
embassy called a "credible and specific threat" that preceded the
commemoration of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York and
the Pentagon last year.

However, U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Ralph L. Boyce remained
tight-lipped on Monday over the nature of the threat, and when
and from where from it had been received.

Since the closure, security has been beefed up at the embassy
with dozens of gun-toting paramilitary police officers guarding
the compound, and half of the wide road in front cordoned off to
traffic.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono hailed the embassy's reopening, which he
said followed good consultation and coordination between the
embassy and Indonesian authorities.

"Until now there has been good coordination between the
Indonesian Police and the American embassy. The embassy itself
welcomed the Indonesian Police's security efforts," he told
reporters.

Boyce met with Susilo last Wednesday to clear up a
"misunderstanding" over the closures. The next day, Vice
President Hamzah Haz, who had at first condemned the shutdown,
ordered police to boost security at the embassy.

Similarly, the U.S. also reopened its embassy in Malaysia on
Monday. The missions in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and Hanoi, Vietnam,
however, remained closed until further notice.

"We are extremely grateful to the government of Malaysia and,
in particular, the Royal Malaysia Police, for the support and
protection they have provided to the U.S. Embassy," an embassy
statement was quoted by AP as saying.

The closure of the U.S. embassy in Jakarta is the second time
it has been closed since the Sept. 11 attacks because of security
fears. In October, the public section of the building was shut
down for two weeks due to fears of terrorist attacks.

Since Sept. 11 last year, dozens of Muslim hard-liners
allegedly linked to al-Qaeda have been arrested in Singapore and
Malaysia. Yet none have been arrested in Indonesia on charges of
terrorism.

Last week, the U.S. State Department issued a worldwide
warning urging American nationals to remain especially vigilant,
saying there was a "continuing threat of terrorist actions." --JP