Americans and Britons wary but not leaving Gulf

Threats from Osama bin Laden have made Americans and Britons in the Gulf region wary but not yet fearful enough to leave.

‘‘We are concerned and we remain vigilant, but we don’t have any plans to pack our bags and leave yet. However, things could change,’’ Stephen Matthews, a 42-year-old lawyer from Arlington, Virginia, said.

‘‘We do have a contingency plan to leave, but we’re not putting it into motion yet. I have other friends who have arrangements in place in case they need to leave, too,’’ said Matthews, who is based in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

A day earlier, a spokesman for Osama bin Laden’s al Qaida group, which US officials say masterminded the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington, appeared on an Arab satellite television to warn Britons and Americans to leave the Gulf and demand that the US-British strikes on Afghanistan end.

In the videotape al Qaida said: ‘‘If the mothers of those (in the Gulf) have a say in their sons’ lives, they have to ask them to get out of the Arabian Peninsula, because the land will burn with fire under their feet, God willing.’’

But Caroline Zaarini, an American freelance consultant, said the thought of leaving Dubai had not crossed her mind.

‘‘I’m being wise with regard to my movements, but I feel safe here and I don’t think there are any real threats. I think the whole issue is getting too much media hype,’’ she said.

After a man fired several pistol rounds that caused no injuries at the Hard Rock Cafe in Dubai, the US Embassy issued a statement saying that no Americans were involved in any incidents in the Emirates.

But the embassy reminded American citizens of the State Department’s ‘‘deep concern for the security of Americans and interests overseas based on threatening rhetoric from extremist groups and the potential for further terrorist actions.’’

The Hard Rock Cafe is close to the American University in Dubai and is popular with foreigners, who make up the majority of Dubai’s population.

The restaurant’s owner described the shooting as an isolated incident and police have not linked it to the tension inspired by the attacks on the US and American retaliatory strikes.

Security precautions have been stepped up in Dubai recently, with at least one mall removing large rubbish containers that could be used to conceal bombs and office buildings monitoring visitors more closely. It was not clear whether these precautions were taken following any specific threats.

A local English-language newspaper in Dubai has received at least two bomb threats over the past two weeks, an employee at the paper said.

In Kuwait, painter Susan Chaibane, of New York City, said she was ‘‘a bit more nervous ... but I’m living my life’’.

She said that she and her family were avoiding big shopping malls but felt protected.

Kuwait’s minister of Foreign Affairs Sheik Mohammed Al Sabah said Kuwait was safe and there was no reason for foreigners to leave.

Foreigners in Kuwait are nervous after a gunman shot dead a Canadian man on Wednesday and injured his wife. The motive and identity of the assailant are yet to be disclosed.

The presence of US troops on Saudi soil - home to Islam’s holiest shrines - and accusations that the West was out to control Arab oil wealth have long been among bin Laden’s primary grievances.