U.S. to close embassies in Mideast for security reasons Aug 4August 2, 2013 - 09:07 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The U.S. will close a number of embassies and consulates, mostly in the Middle East, on Sunday, Aug 4, in response to an unspecified threat, officials say, according to BBC News. A state department spokeswoman said the order applied to any embassy or consulate normally open on Sunday. In the Muslim world, Sunday is a work day. In other parts of the world U.S. diplomatic offices are shut on Sunday. Last year on September 11, the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, was attacked, leaving four Americans dead. Other embassies are routinely targets of protesters. "We have instructed all U.S. embassies and consulates that would have normally been open on Sunday to suspend operations, specifically on August 4th," a senior state department official told the BBC. "It is possible we may have additional days of closing as well." The official said the state department had "been apprised of information" leading it to these "precautionary steps... out of an abundance of caution". CBS News reported that among those affected by closure would be the embassies or consulates in Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Armenia border residents dissatisfied with delimitation Residents Kirants are dissatisfied with the results of the delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “Great success”: Pashinyan pleased with new border protocol Pashinyan has described the signing by Armenia and Azerbaijan of a protocol on delimitation in Tavush as “a great success”. Armenia, Azerbaijan sign protocol on demarcation coordinates Armenia’s government took on May 15 another step towards handing over four border areas to Azerbaijan. Power of One Dram sums up two-year program with Teach for Armenia Idram Junior also joined the companies during the visit, bringing with it a fascinating intellectual game for children |