KENYA: The British High Commission in Kenya said yesterday it had closed its embassy until further notice after receiving a specific security threat.
"We received a specific threat against the High Commission and have closed the High Commission until further notice while we conduct investigations," the embassy's spokesman, Mr Mark Norton, said.
Mr Norton said he could not divulge the details of the threat, or who had issued it but said the embassy would remain closed indefinitely and would only reopen after the threat had been investigated.
He spoke six days after a suicide bombing which killed 13 civilians in Mombasa. An almost simultaneous missile attack narrowly missed an Israeli airliner taking off nearby.
President Bush said he believed Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network was involved in attacks against Israelis in Kenya and he blamed "terrorists" for disrupting Middle East peace plans.
Mr Bush also said he was concerned about the plight of the Palestinian people, but that he fully understood the Israeli government's "attempt to stamp out terror" in reaction to a series of bombings against Israelis.
Mr Bush, answering questions from reporters, confirmed US suspicions about al-Qaeda's involvement in attacks last week.
"I am concerned about al-Qaeda anywhere. I believe that al-Qaeda was involved in the African bombing in Kenya. I believe al- Qaeda hates freedom," Mr Bush said. - (Reuters)