US troops in the Middle East spent a second day on high alert on Saturday, amid reports of a possible attack by followers of Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden, sources told CNN.
A Marine Corps exercise was canceled in Jordan, after Army General Tommy Franks placed US forces in the region on the highest anti-terrorist alert, Threatcon Delta, said AFP.
In addition, the US State Department said it was cautioning US citizens abroad of an "increased risk."
The alert is in response to a "nonspecific but credible threat" from Bin Laden's group, sources told CNN.
Dubai's satellite television station on Saturday reported that Bin Laden's fighters were "in a state of alert," according to AFP.
"I met with Bin Laden near Kandahar (Afghanistan) over the last few days, and his main supporters said in front of him that there will be a big surprise over the next two weeks," a correspondent for the Arab television station said.
"It will be a hard hit against US and Israeli targets across the world," the reporter said.
Among the Bin Laden supporters quoted were Abu Hafs, considered Bin Laden's right-hand man, and Ayman Al Zawahirit, the leader of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad.
"For the entire interview, Bin Laden was silent, probably because he received instructions from the Taliban (Afghanistan's ruling militia) not to speak to the press," the reporter said, quoted by the agency.
"The fighters of Bin Laden are on a state of alert," he said, adding that "draconian security precautions" had been taken for his visit to the Bin Laden camp.
The threat is believed to be against US citizens and interests around the world, rather than specifically against the US military or potential targets in the Persian Gulf region, according to CNN sources.
Bin Laden has been indicted by the United States for allegedly masterminding the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam that together killed 224 people.
US authorities also suspect Bin Ladan was behind a suicide bombing of the Navy destroyer USS Cole that killed 17 US servicemen and women and injured 39 in the attack on October 12, 2000.
The exiled Saudi millionaire is believed to be taking refuge in Afghanistan, where the ruling Taliban movement has refused to turn him over to Western powers.
A videotape that surfaced on Thursday showed Bin Laden delivering a message to his supporters.
"To all the Mujahedeen, your brothers in Palestine are waiting for you, it's time to penetrate America and Israel and hit them where it hurts most."
Officials said US intelligence had indications from two separate sources that an attack was planned, and had monitored the movement of known Bin Laden operatives.
The threat "does not point to a specific region," according to an informed US official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The official said the threats were concentrated in the Middle East and Arabian Gulf, but that the increased risk was worldwide.
The officials said there was a timeframe for the attack, but they would not disclose it.
But one official said the attack appeared to have been planned before Thursday's announcement of US indictments against 14 suspects in the June 25, 1996, bombing of the Khobar Towers housing complex in Saudi Arabia that killed 19 US airmen and injured hundreds of others.
Thirteen Saudis and one Lebanese citizen are accused of bombing the military housing complex. The fifth anniversary of the bombing is Monday.
Ships of the US 5th Fleet, including the USS Constellation aircraft carrier group, put out to sea on Friday as a precaution under the requirements of the heightened alert.
Most of the fleet was already at sea, but some minesweepers left port from Bahrain, headquarters of the US 5th Fleet.
State Department officials said the US Embassy in Bahrain would not reopen Saturday and the US Embassy in Dakar, Senegal, closed early Friday because of security concerns – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
