July 19, 1999
Web posted at: 5:33 p.m. EDT (2133 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States has temporarily closed its embassy in Maputo, Mozambique, citing security reasons.

State Department Spokesman James Rubin said the embassy temporarily suspended its operations Monday morning and will remain closed until further notice.

A State Department official, speaking on condition he not be named, said the embassy received information that was serious enough to warrant the closure.

In June, the United States and Great Britain temporarily closed embassies in Gambia, Namibia, Madagascar and Senegal after the two governments received information indicating the missions could be targeted for attacks.

The United States also closed diplomatic outposts in Liberia and Togo at that time.

Additionally, the U.S. Embassy in Uganda has closed on a few occasions because of security concerns since the nearly simultaneous bombings of the embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in August 1998 that left 224 people dead and thousands injured.

U.S. officials said last month that they feared Islamic militant Osama bin Laden was in the final stages of planning an attack on the United States. Bin Laden is suspected of involvement in the Kenya and Tanzania bombings. Five men are being held in connection with the attacks.

Since those embassy bombings, the United States has increased security at several outposts, but critics say more should be done.

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