Britain on Wednesday closed its embassy in Yemen due to specific security threat, warning that terrorists were in the final stages of planning attacks against Western targets in the northern African country.  

"The British embassy will be closed on Jan. 5 in response to specific security concerns," the British Foreign Office said in a statement on its Web site.

"There is a high threat from terrorism. As at December 30, there is specific information that terrorists are in the final stages of planning attacks against British targets and other Western interests in Yemen," the statement said.

"British nationals visiting or resident in Yemen should consider whether their personal security arrangements are adequate. You should be particularly vigilant in places frequented by foreigners, such as hotels," the statement added.

There have been a number of terrorist incidents in Yemen in recent years.

In September 2004, Yemeni courts sentenced six Yemeni nationals for terrorist activity related to the bombing attack on the US destroyer Cole in 2000.

In August last year, 15 Yemeni nationals were sentenced to terms of imprisonment for terrorist activity.

(Xinhua News Agency January 6, 2005)