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 Support The DrudgeReport; Visit Our Advertisers  Americans put on alert throughout Mideast after Yassin killing Tue Mar 23 2004 10:09:37 ET Americans living and traveling throughout the Middle East have been warned to lay low and step up security precautions amid fears that Israel's killing of Hamas spiritual chief Sheikh Ahmed Yassin may spark anti-US violence, the State Department said Tuesday. US embassies in at least five Middle East and Gulf nations -- Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Syria and Yemen -- have issued alerts to American citizens, advising them of possible retaliation from Hamas and its supporters, it said. The warnings, in the form of "warden messages" sent to US citizens residing in those countries, tell Americans to avoid demonstrations and note reported threats to US interests by Hamas officials in the wake of Yassin's death. In Israel, the US embassy renewed calls for Americans to leave the Gaza Strip "immediately" and said Hamas had stepped up its anti-US rhetoric. "The US embassy in Tel Aviv repeats its call for all American citizens in Gaza to depart immediately, as soon as they can safely do so," it said. "In addition, all Americans are urged to defer travel to Israel at this time." A similar message was released by the US embassy in Amman. "In reaction to the death of Hamas leader Sheikh Yassin, ... public demonstrations and emotional outbursts by groups and individuals may occur in Jordan," it said. "At least one regional figure has called for retaliatory attacks, including on Americans," the embassy said. "Americans should exercise caution in their movements and avoid areas where demonstrators may gather, including areas near refugee camps, city centers and universities." In Egypt, the US embassy said there was a distinct possibility of large and potentially violent demonstrations in Cairo and Alexandria, particularly around universities. "There is a credible possibility of spontaneous demonstrations forming with little or no warning," the Cairo embassy said. "Americans should avoid crowds and large gatherings." In Damascus, the US embassy said it believed the Israeli operation that killed Yassin on Monday -- of which the United States has denied prior knowledge -- would set off protests throughout Syria. "We expect that emotions and tensions will be extremely high over the next few days given his prominent role and following," the embassy said. "Because of the potential for demonstrations, the embassy cautions US citizens to avoid large gatherings and neighborhoods where anti-American sentiment could run high in the near term," it said. In Yemen, the US embassy told Americans "to pay particular attention to their personal security at all times," noting the potential for angry demonstrations. The embassy advised US citizens "to avoid large crowds throughout Sanaa, ... as there may be large demonstrations as the result of the recent death of a Hamas leader in the region." Yassin, who served as Hamas's spiritual leader from its founding in 1987, was killed in an Israeli helicopter strike Monday along with seven other people outside a Gaza City mosque. His death prompted calls for revenge as around 200,000 angry sympathizers followed his funeral procession in Gaza City. |
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