British and German embassies reopen

The British and German embassies in Saudi Arabia reopened today following temporary closures due to security concerns in the days after terrorists struck Western targets in the country’s capital.

“We reviewed the security situation and we have resumed full operations,” a British diplomat said.

The British Embassy in Riyadh and consulates in the Red Sea port city of Jiddah and in Dhahran in the east were shut down on Wednesday, along with American, German and Italian embassies and consulates following warnings of ”imminent” terror threats in the kingdom.

The Germany Embassy reopened its consular section at the Riyadh mission and its consulate in Jiddah today, a diplomat said.

The closures came days after 34 people – including eight Americans, two Britons and nine attackers – were killed and nearly 200 injured in May 12 suicide bombing attacks at Western housing compounds in the capital.

American and Italian missions remained closed today. An American diplomat said the US Embassy was closed for Memorial Day and was scheduled to reopen tomorrow.

“I think the situation now is safe enough for us to reopen the embassy and also the consulates,” the diplomat said.

An operator at the Italian Embassy said the mission was normally closed Friday and Saturday.

Most embassies are normally closed on the Thursday-Friday weekend.

Security remains tight across the kingdom, with armed checkpoints at major landmarks and outside many Western residential complexes. Saudi officials have detained about 100 people in a sweeping crackdown on extremists following the attacks four men in custody are allegedly tied to Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida group.

Western diplomats said Saudi authorities are working ”very aggressively” to crack down on the militants.