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US embassies tighten security in Asia

TOKYO: A shocked United States shut two of its key embassies in Asia and beefed up security at others on Wednesday, warning US citizens to be on high alert in the wake of the extraordinary airplane attacks on New York and Washington.

US schoolchildren in several Asian countries were told to stay at home and with some experts already pointing the finger of blame for the attacks on Saudi exile Osama bin Laden, the atmosphere in Asia's Muslim countries was particularly tense.

The main embassy in Tokyo and consulates around Japan, home to a huge US military presence, were closed indefinitely and the embassy ordered all family members of its staff, including schoolchildren, to stay at home.

"While we know of no information specific to Japan, in view of these attacks, the US embassy and its constituent posts in Japan are closed until further notice," an embassy statement said.

Last Friday, the United States issued a warning to its citizens living in South Korea and Japan after receiving information about a possible threat to US military facilities and staff in the two Asian countries.

US authorities took similar steps in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country, closing the Jakarta embassy and boosting already-tight security. Some international schools in the capital also closed for at least a day on the advice of the embassy.

Tuesday's unprecedented terror attacks on New York and Washington, in which thousands are thought to have died, prompted other embassies to tighten security measures.

As the scale of the tragedy became apparent, New Zealanders began placing bunches of flowers outside the US embassy gates in Wellington.


Tense atmosphere

In Pakistan, a Marine security guard said senior US diplomats had stayed up through the night to monitor events, but added that the embassy would open on Wednesday.

"Our embassy is open today. Our visa section is closed to people who want visas," he said.

The Muslim nation neighbours Afghanistan, whose Taliban regime has been accused by Washington of sheltering bin Laden.

The US embassy in Beijing was open for business, but security provided around the embassy by Chinese armed police doubled to about 30 and extra men were placed outside the nearby ambassador's residence.

Chinese police said security has been strengthened at most embassies, especially those of Western and Arab nations.

The US embassy in South Korea, home to several US military bases, was operating normally "as of now", an American diplomat said on Wednesday morning.

Overnight, Seoul beefed up security around US diplomatic missions and military facilities throughout South Korea.


US warns citizens in Japan

In Japan, the US embassy added a warning that US organisations and citizens in the country should step up their own security measures.

Security outside the embassy in central Tokyo was noticeably tighter with guards carrying riot shields in addition to the usual baton sticks.

Japan had already ordered its military to tighten security for the huge US bases scattered across the country and US Marines went on maximum alert after Tuesday's aircraft attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

The US embassy in Singapore was open for full consular and visa services, with no outward signs of increased security around the imposing grey stone building.

"We're open," an embassy spokesman said. "I can't comment on security issues."

In Australia, a US diplomat said US consulates and embassies in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne were all closed. Staff were advised early on Wednesday to stay at home and police imposed an exclusion zone around the embassy in Canberra.

But the US embassy in Manila, one of the largest in Asia, was open, a spokeswoman said.

The American Institute in Taiwan said it had suspended visa applications temporarily, but other operations were normal. The American school in Taipei was open as usual.

source: indiatimes.com, September 12, 2001,