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U.S. issues new terror alert in Gulf

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Thursday, July 19, 2001

WASHINGTON Ñ The United States has issued a new alert of a terrorist attack against Americans in the Gulf.

U.S. officials said U.S. intelligence services have obtained information that Islamic insurgents linked to Saudi billionaire fugitive Osama Bin Laden plan to attack American citizens or installations anywhere in the Gulf Cooperation Council states or Yemen. The GCC is composed of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

"The United States government has strong indications that individuals may be planning imminent terrorist actions against U.S. interests in the Arabian peninsula,'' the State Department said. "In the past, such individuals have not distinguished between official and civilian targets. As always, we take this information seriously."

"American citizens in the region are urged to remain vigilant with regard to their personal security and to exercise caution," the State Department said.

Washington has been on alert for an attack for about a month. In June, the U.S. military places its forces in the Gulf on Threat Condition Delta, regarded as the highest state of readiness, in preparation for an attack by Bin Laden.

U.S. officials said the greatest threat of attack appears in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, where the United States maintains the largest military presence. They said the Pentagon has issued new warnings to commanders in the region.

"We are very much aware of the State Department's warning, and we are constantly assessing the security situation, and will put into effect whatever security procedures we think are appropriate for the occasion,'' Pentagon spokesman Craig Quigley said.

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