Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 568 Sat. December 31, 2005  
   
General


Security threat forces US embassy closure in KL


The United States embassy in the Malaysian capital was shut down yesterday due to an unspecified security threat, and the police presence around the building was beefed up, officials said.

"The embassy will close effective today ... until further notice due to a security threat to the embassy," the embassy said in a statement.

US embassy spokeswoman Kathryn Taylor said the mission, which is on a main thoroughfare in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, was closed at 11:40 am (0340 GMT) but would not specify the nature of the threat.

"Unfortunately I can't say at this time because it's something we're actively looking to," she said.

"The information applies specifically to the US embassy and does not apply to US citizens or private US interests in Malaysia as far as we're aware."