US in worldwide travel alert on al-Qaeda threat

The US state department has said it is issuing a global travel alert because of an unspecified al-Qaeda threat.

In a statement, the department said the potential for an attack is particularly strong in the Middle East and North Africa.

The move comes shortly after the US announced the closure of embassies in the region on Sunday.

The alert expires on 31 August 2013, the department said. It recommended US citizens travelling abroad be vigilant.

"Current information suggests that al-Qa'ida and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks both in the region and beyond, and that they may focus efforts to conduct attacks in the period between now and the end of August," the statement said.

Source : bbc[dot]co[dot]uk