A day after the United States and Britain closed their Embassies in Yemen following threats from al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), a local branch of the terrorist network, France followed suit Monday.
The closure was reportedly prompted by Yemeni security forces losing track of six trucks laden with arms and explosives.
French Foreign Ministry said in a statement that its ambassador in Yemen "decided not to authorize any public access to the diplomatic mission until further notice."
The ambassador has advised French citizens in that country to be very careful and avoid travel in the wake of increased threat to Western targets.
Embassies of the United States and Britain in Sanaa remained closed for a second day Monday after receiving intelligence that AQAP is planning an attack in the Yemeni capital, possibly against the diplomatic buildings.
US authorities have not given any idea when the Embassy would re-open.
Spain kept its Embassy in Yemen open, but restricted access to it citing security reasons.
AQAP claimed responsibility for an unsuccessful attempt by a young Nigerian to bomb a US-bound airplane from Amsterdam on Christmas Day.
The incident triggered a worldwide alert by the Western countries, especially the United States, to step up security measures on airports.
US authorities announced that US-bound travelers from 14 countries would have to undergo additional screening, starting Monday.
Yemeni forces have tightened security around the airport and foreign diplomatic missions in Sanaa after the militant group called for strikes on Embassies in that country.
A militant strike on the US Embassy in the Yemeni capital in 2008 left 16 people dead, including six policemen and six of the terrorists.
Yemen, under growing threat from al-Qaeda, conducted "anti-terror" raid near Sanaa Monday, killing two members of the militant outfit and injuring three others.
Reports quoting Yemeni officials say the military operation in the Arhab district, northeast of the capital, targeted terrorists believed to be behind the threats directed to the US Embassy.
Reports say stepped up pressure on militants by the US and its allies in both Afghanistan and Pakistan have forced al-Qaeda largely to re-locate to Yemen and Somalia.
Yemeni government estimates that there could be up to 300 al- Qaeda militants in the country, some of whom may be planning attacks on Western targets.
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