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CNN Live Saturday
State Department Gives Travel Warning To Southeast Asia
Aired November 08, 2003 - 12:09 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A reminder to Americans from the U.S. State Department about terrorist threats in Southeast Asia, the latest advisory urges Americans to avoid the state of Sabah in Malaysia. It follows last month's kidnapping of six Indonesian and Filipino workers from a resort in that region. The advisory also reminds Americans a terrorist group linked to al-Qaeda has cells operating throughout Southeast Asia.
And a terror alert for Americans in Saudi Arabia. The U.S. has closed its diplomatic missions in the desert kingdom for a security review. CNN State Department correspondent, Andrea Koppel reports, now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The warning to Americans, in the Saudi kingdom was stark, the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh "...continues to receive creditable information that terrorists in Saudi Arabia have moved from the planning to operational phase of planned attacks in the kingdom."
RICHARD BOUCHER, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: In light of the seriousness of this existing threat, the Embassy in Riyadh and U.S. Consulates general (SIC) in Jeddah and Dhahran will close on Saturday, November 8th in order to review their security posture.
KOPPEL: Another State Department official told CNN, the Embassy and Consulates would remain closed until at least the Veteran's day holiday, next week.
Terror threats against Americans in Saudi Arabia are not new. In 1996, suicide bombers killed 19 Americans and wounded hundreds more at the Khobar Towers military complex in Dhahran. For years, al-Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden, used the U.S. military presence in the kingdom, now significantly reduced, to justify Jihad against Americans.
Saudi Arabia is custodian of Mecca and Medina, two of Islam's holiest sights. Most recently, al-Qaeda is believed to be responsible for the May 12th suicide bombings of three western housing facilities in Riyadh.
(on camera): And U.S. officials tell CNN the latest up tick in threats against Americans living in the Saudi Kingdom, suggest al- Qaeda may be planning more attacks soon perhaps during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, although U.S. officials say the timing and targets are unclear. Andrea Koppel, CNN, at the State Department.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 8, 2003 - 12:09 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A reminder to Americans from the U.S. State Department about terrorist threats in Southeast Asia, the latest advisory urges Americans to avoid the state of Sabah in Malaysia. It follows last month's kidnapping of six Indonesian and Filipino workers from a resort in that region. The advisory also reminds Americans a terrorist group linked to al-Qaeda has cells operating throughout Southeast Asia.
And a terror alert for Americans in Saudi Arabia. The U.S. has closed its diplomatic missions in the desert kingdom for a security review. CNN State Department correspondent, Andrea Koppel reports, now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The warning to Americans, in the Saudi kingdom was stark, the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh "...continues to receive creditable information that terrorists in Saudi Arabia have moved from the planning to operational phase of planned attacks in the kingdom."
RICHARD BOUCHER, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: In light of the seriousness of this existing threat, the Embassy in Riyadh and U.S. Consulates general (SIC) in Jeddah and Dhahran will close on Saturday, November 8th in order to review their security posture.
KOPPEL: Another State Department official told CNN, the Embassy and Consulates would remain closed until at least the Veteran's day holiday, next week.
Terror threats against Americans in Saudi Arabia are not new. In 1996, suicide bombers killed 19 Americans and wounded hundreds more at the Khobar Towers military complex in Dhahran. For years, al-Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden, used the U.S. military presence in the kingdom, now significantly reduced, to justify Jihad against Americans.
Saudi Arabia is custodian of Mecca and Medina, two of Islam's holiest sights. Most recently, al-Qaeda is believed to be responsible for the May 12th suicide bombings of three western housing facilities in Riyadh.
(on camera): And U.S. officials tell CNN the latest up tick in threats against Americans living in the Saudi Kingdom, suggest al- Qaeda may be planning more attacks soon perhaps during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, although U.S. officials say the timing and targets are unclear. Andrea Koppel, CNN, at the State Department.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
