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US embassy in Malaysia closed after threat
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-12-30 13:51
The U.S. embassy in Kuala Lumpur was closed on Friday due to a security
threat, a spokeswoman in the Malaysian capital said.
"We got some information indicating there was a threat to the embassy and
decided to close at 11.40 (22:40 EST) this morning," Kathryn Taylor said. "I'm
afraid I can't be more specific."
Taylor said the embassy would remain closed at least until Tuesday because
Monday is a public holiday in the United States. "We'll reassess on Monday
whether to open on Tuesday," she said.
The U.S. embassy was closed briefly in September 2004 after a white powder
was discovered in a mailed envelope. The powder was later found to be non-toxic.
In October this year suspicious packages containing a yellow, oily liquid --
and in one case a powder -- were delivered to about a dozen embassies, including
the U.S., British, French, German, Australian, Canadian and Russian missions.
Analysts said the packages, which included a message condemning the countries
for mistreating Muslims, were probably sent by scaremongers with no serious ties
to well-known terrorist groups.
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