Saudi attacks in 'final stages' of planning

RIYADH - The British government warned on Monday that militants were in the final stages of planning attacks in Saudi Arabia as Washington shut its missions there for two days and Australia told its citizens to avoid travel to the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia, battling a two-year campaign of violence by supporters of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, said it had no solid information of any imminent attack in the oil giant.

"There are credible reports that terrorists are in the final stages of planning attacks," said an updated advisory posted on the website of the British embassy in the capital Riyadh.

Earlier, the government cited "credible reports" that militants were planning attacks in the near future. It said Britons in the kingdom should maintain the highest level of vigilance.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs told Australians to avoid travel to the kingdom, saying militants might be planning attacks on housing compounds.

"We have received credible reports that terrorists are planning attacks in Saudi Arabia in the near future," the department said on its website.

"This follows other recent reporting suggesting that terrorists may be planning to attack residential housing compounds in Saudi Arabia."

The security warnings, combined with worries the United States may face a petrol shortage, helped propel oil prices to another record high.

Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, already has high security around oil installations. Militants have waged a bombing campaign in the kingdom since 2003 to expel Westerners from Islam's birthplace and destabilise the pro-US government.

The warnings came a day after the American embassy in Riyadh said all US diplomatic missions would be closed on August 8 and 9 in response to threats of attacks on US buildings.

It warned of "ongoing security concerns" in the area, including for seaborne vessels travelling in the Red Sea.

King Abdullah, who came to power this month after King Fahd died, is expected to continue the crackdown on militants, which analysts say has eroded al Qaeda's network in Saudi Arabia.

Suicide bombers have hit several compounds housing foreigners, and militants also staged a daylight raid on the US consulate in Jeddah. At least 91 foreign nationals and Saudi civilians have been killed in the violence.

Last month, the United States warned Americans in Saudi Arabia that militants were planning fresh attacks and later banned military personnel from travelling around the kingdom.

That warning came as Saudi security forces said they found an arms cache outside Riyadh with two tonnes of chemicals used by suspected al Qaeda militants to make bombs.

Authorities have killed or arrested all but three men on a list of 26 most wanted suspects published in 2003. In June, officials listed another 36 wanted men they are still hunting.

- REUTERS