Wednesday July 18 7:35 PM ET

U.S. Warns of 'Terrorist' Threat in Gulf Area

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States issued a warning on Wednesday that ``terrorists'' could be about to attack American targets in the Arabian peninsula.

``The United States government has strong indications that individuals may be planning imminent terrorist actions against U.S. interests in the Arabian peninsula,'' the State Department said in a statement. The peninsula comprises Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen.

``In the past, such individuals have not distinguished between official and civilian targets. As always, we take this information seriously,'' the statement said.

The United States has already placed its embassies and other facilities in the region on heightened alert because of threats, it noted.

Last month, U.S. forces in the Gulf went on the highest state of alert, Threat Condition Delta, based on a broad but ''credible'' threat which U.S. officials said was linked to exiled Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden (news - web sites).

A Pentagon (news - web sites) spokesman would not comment on whether U.S. forces in the region had again been placed on Threat Condition Delta in light of the latest warning.

``We are very much aware of the State Department's warning, and we are constantly assessing the security situation, and will put into effect whatever security procedures we think are appropriate for the occasion,'' Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. Craig Quigley said.

U.S. officials said they believed the threat warning was linked to bin Laden, who the United States has accused of masterminding the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in East Africa.

``It is believed that the warning stems from intelligence gathered about people associated with bin Laden,'' a U.S. official said on condition of anonymity.

The threats were not tied to a specific time or place but appeared to focus on Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, U.S. sources said.

``American citizens in the region are urged to remain vigilant with regard to their personal security and to exercise caution,'' the State Department statement said.

It said the United States had no further information on specific targets, timing, or method of attack.

A worldwide caution issued June 22, a day after 14 people were indicted for the 1996 bombing which killed 19 U.S. servicemen at the Khobar Towers military complex in Saudi Arabia, warned Americans abroad of an increase in the risk of attacks.

A similar worldwide caution was issued on May 29 after associates of bin Laden were convicted in federal court in New York for the U.S. embassy bombings in Africa.

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2001