FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A reminder to Americans from the U.S. State Department about terrorist threats in Southeast Asia, the latest advisory urges Americans to avoid the state of Sabah in Malaysia. It follows last month's kidnapping of six Indonesian and Filipino workers from a resort in that region. The advisory also reminds Americans a terrorist group linked to al-Qaeda has cells operating throughout Southeast Asia. And a terror alert for Americans in Saudi Arabia. The U.S. has closed its diplomatic missions in the desert kingdom for a security review. CNN State Department correspondent, Andrea Koppel reports, now.</s>ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The warning to Americans, in the Saudi kingdom was stark, the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh "...continues to receive creditable information that terrorists in Saudi Arabia have moved from the planning to operational phase of planned attacks in the kingdom."</s>RICHARD BOUCHER, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: In light of the seriousness of this existing threat, the Embassy in Riyadh and U.S. Consulates general</s>KOPPEL: Another State Department official told CNN, the Embassy and Consulates would remain closed until at least the Veteran's day holiday, next week. Terror threats against Americans in Saudi Arabia are not new. In 1996, suicide bombers killed 19 Americans and wounded hundreds more at the Khobar Towers military complex in Dhahran. For years, al-Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden, used the U.S. military presence in the kingdom, now significantly reduced, to justify Jihad against Americans. Saudi Arabia is custodian of Mecca and Medina, two of Islam's holiest sights. Most recently, al-Qaeda is believed to be responsible for the May 12th suicide bombings of three western housing facilities in Riyadh. (on camera): And U.S. officials tell CNN the latest up tick in threats against Americans living in the Saudi Kingdom, suggest al- Qaeda may be planning more attacks soon perhaps during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, although U.S. officials say the timing and targets are unclear. Andrea Koppel, CNN, at the State Department.
State Department Gives Travel Warning To Southeast Asia