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Threat shuts US consulate in Dubai |
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1/22/2009 10:24:13 AM |
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The US consulate in Dubai was closed Wednesday to public business after an alert from local authorities making a rare acknowledgment of possible security risks in the Gulf’s commercial hub.
A US Embassy spokesman, Steven Pike, said the decision to temporarily scale back operations at the consulate was based on “information from Dubai authorities,” but declined to give further details about the warning.
US officials are “continually reviewing” the security situation and the consulate could resume normal operations Thursday, said Pike, speaking from Abu Dhabi.
A Dubai police official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, confirmed local authorities had warned US diplomats about a potential security threat. The official also declined to give any additional details.
But it was an unusual warning by Dubai authorities, who are extremely sensitive to any hints of instability that could threaten its extensive business and property markets or its growing image as a luxury tourism destination.
There have been no major terrorist incidents in the Emirates. In June, Britain raised its terror warning to the highest level for its citizens living in the Emirates, saying at the time that “attacks could be indiscriminate and could happen at any time.”
At Dh42.2 billion, the UAE federal budget for 2009 is the country's largest ever and 21 per cent bigger than 2008.
The US consulate, located in a Dubai high-rise tower that includes businesses and other diplomatic offices, was closed for American citizen services and visa interviews, said an announcement issued by the embassy late Tuesday.
The statement did not elaborate on the nature of the security information. It was issued just hours after US President Barack Obama took the oath of office.
There was no additional security visible around the Dubai tower that includes the consulate and there was no public notification about any change in services.
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Source: Saudigazette.com.sa |
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