The United States has moved to reduce its diplomatic presence in Saudi Arabia by offering free flights home to non-essential diplomats and all embassy dependants because of security concerns.
A State Department advisory yesterday also told US citizens to consider leaving the country, standard advice it gives whenever it makes the offer to pay for non-essential diplomats and dependants who wish to leave.
A spokeswoman for the US embassy in Riyadh said today the latest warning was not based on any specific threat but ongoing security concerns in the kingdom, which has suffered a spate of deadly suicide bombings believed to be linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.
"We are offering diplomatic families an option depending on their individual circumstances," the spokeswoman said.
More than 50 people, including nine Americans, have been killed in attacks on Riyadh residential compounds since May.
"The decision to authorise voluntary departure is based on the reality that the terrorist threat in Saudi Arabia remains at a critical level," said a State Department spokesman, adding that several dozen people were eligible for flights out. Saudi officials have so far remained silent on the warning.