Kuwait steps up security
By CNN's Martin Savidge
KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait (CNN) -- A force of 4,000 special forces troops were deployed Saturday as Kuwait stepped up security following the killing of an American and the increasing prospects of the U.S.-led war with Iraq.
Dressed in distinctive black and blue camouflage uniforms with bullet-proof helmets and armed with semi-automatic rifles, the troops were stationed at major intersections around Kuwait City.
The troops, who are part of the Kuwaiti police, were also patrolling the streets in armored personnel carriers armed with machine guns.
Kuwaiti Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammed Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, asked if Kuwait is safe, told reporters: "It was, it is and I hope it always will be."
Kuwaiti officials said security had been increased from normal to Level 3 and would be at Level 1 -- the highest level -- by mid-February. Part of that plan, police officials said, includes setting up police checkpoints around Kuwait City.
Kuwaitis and expatriates were told they should carry their government-issued identity cards or their passports at all times "due to the current circumstances in the country, which call for tightening security measures."
Last Tuesday, a civilian U.S. government contractor was killed in an ambush on a car near Camp Doha. Another American citizen was seriously wounded. (Full story)
The attack was the third against Americans in the past four months. On November 21, two U.S. soldiers were shot and wounded by a Kuwaiti policeman near Camp Doha, and on October 8, 2002, one U.S. Marine was killed and another wounded by extremists.
A Kuwaiti was arrested for last Tuesday's shooting. The investigation led police to a number of alleged co-conspirators. Police recovered a cache of weapons including one rocket propelled grenade, four machine-guns, "several pistols" and a large quantity of ammunition.
Police said they determined that a number of other attacks against Americans had been planned. Thursday, the U.S. Embassy told Americans they were "strongly urged to consider leaving" Kuwait because of the dangers.
Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz said last week that because Kuwait is hosting at least 30,000 U.S. troops with more on the way, Kuwait could become a battleground if a new war starts with the United States.
