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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The U.S. Embassy in Amman will be closed on Sunday, August 4th, after the Department of State instructed certain U.S. Embassies and consulates to remain closed or to suspend operations on Sunday.

"The Department has been apprised of information that, out of an abundance of caution and care for our employees and others who may be visiting our installations, indicates we should institute these precautionary steps. It is possible we may have additional days of closings as well, depending on our analysis," a statement on the Embassy's website said.

All U.S. citizen services appointments and visa appointments with the embassy have been cancelled and have been rescheduled on an individual basis.

The statement however did not discuss specific threat information, security considerations or measures, or other steps it will take beyond the announcement.

"The Department, when conditions warrant, takes steps like this to balance our continued operations with security and safety," the statement said.

The Embassy urged U.S. citizens to avoid areas where large gatherings may occur. "Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. You should avoid areas of demonstrations, and exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations," the statement added.

Al Qaeda is linked to a terror threat that has prompted the State Department to close embassies in key Middle East nations, including Egypt and Israel, as a precaution beginning Sunday, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce told CNN's "New Day" on Friday.

"It's my understanding that it is al Qaeda-linked, all right, and the threat emanates in the Middle East and in Central Asia," said Royce, a California Republican who's chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

On Thursday, a U.S. official not authorized to speak publicly about the matter called the threat "credible and serious."

It was "directed at American targets overseas," but may not be confined to main diplomatic facilities, the official said.

In addition to Egypt and Israel, the State Department action includes diplomatic facilities in Saudi Arabia, Libya, Iraq and Kuwait, according to the agency and Twitter postings.

A senior State Department official said that the agency has told those embassies to close Sunday, normally the beginning of the work week, and that additional days could be added.

Diplomatic facilities in the region are for the most part closed or operate with minimal staff on Fridays and Saturdays.

Separately, another U.S. official told CNN that the Obama administration is monitoring threats against the embassy in Sanaa, Yemen.
The official did not say whether the embassy would close.

President Barack Obama met with Yemeni President Abdo Rabu Mansour Hadi at the White House on Thursday. Yemen has been cracking down on al Qaeda.

A U.S. official earlier told CNN the embassy closures were because of "more than the usual chatter" about a potential terrorist threat, which was not specific about time and location.

Officials said the time frame comes with the approaching end of Ramadan and the first anniversary of the terror attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens.

State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said the agency was taking the steps at diplomatic sites out of an abundance of caution.
(Ammon News and CNN report)