US closes embassy in Yemen in wake of al-Qaida killing

THE US Embassy in Yemen was closed for security reasons yesterday and protection of the building was increased after revelations that a US Hellfire missile fired from a CIA plane killed a senior member of the al-Qaida terror network.

The CIA involvement could create a backlash in a country where Islamic militants have operated freely and most oppose US policies toward Iraq and the perceived American bias toward Israel in the conflict with the Palestinians.

Embassy officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the diplomatic mission was closed for security reasons and the Yemeni government had been asked to upgrade security.