RIYADH, Feb 21 (Reuters) The United States has instructed non-essential diplomats and families to return to Saudi Arabia, two months after it allowed them to leave because of security fears, the U.S. embassy in Riyadh said today.
''All employees and family members who are out of Saudi Arabia on authorised departure are expected to return to post in the most expeditious manner possible,'' an embassy spokesman quoted U.S.
State Department instructions as saying.
Suicide bombings in Riyadh killed more than 50 people last year, including nine Americans. Citing continued security concerns, Washington offered some diplomats and their dependents the option of leaving on December 17.
The spokesman was unable to say how many staff would be returning to Saudi Arabia. U.S. diplomatic missions have remained open in the kingdom since November, when they closed for a week on the eve of a November suicide bombing in Riyadh.
The U.S. move to reverse its December decision came despite a Saudi announcement one week ago that security forces were hunting a bomb-laden car in Riyadh which they said had been primed for a ''criminal act''.
Three days later Washington's close ally Britain warned that ''terrorists'' could be in the final stages of planning an attack.
Last year's attacks have been blamed on supporters of Saudi-born Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network. Saudi authorities are still hunting at least 23 top suspects, two months after publishing their names and pictures and asking for public help.
Jammu, Feb 21 (UNI) Three Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists hailing from Pakistan were arrested by the Poonch Police today from outside the state.
With the arrest, the police have foiled an attempt to carry out a Fidayeen attack on the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport at New Delhi by the Lashkar-e-Toiba.
Disclosing this to mediapersons here this afternoon, Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Gopal Sharma said a group of three terrorists, all belonging to Pakistan and owing allegiance to the LeT, were arrested by the Poonch Police from outside the state.
Preliminary interrogation revealed that they intended to carry out the act of terror on February 20. A local guide, who was entrusted with the task of facilitating the movement of terrorists to Delhi and recee of the area, however, managed to escape.
The three terrorists arrested were identified as Assan Ullah alias Abu Bilal, Mohd Bashir alias Abu Maria and Rashid alias Abu Kasha.
The plan to target IGI Airport was hatched in village Fazalabad in Surankote sector of Poonch district. LeT commanders Abu Salama and Asadullah under the supervision of Divisional Commander Abu Hanzulla prepared the three freshly infilrated terrorists to carry out the Fidayeen attack.
It may be recalled that Abu Salama was the mastermind of the Fidayeen attack on Jammu Railway Station on January 2, in which four security personnel were killed and nine others injured, and also the Fidayeen attack at Poonch on December 10 last year.
Three AK rifles, twelve hand grenades, twelve AK magazines and 480 AK rounds were seized from their possession, police said.