It urged American travelers to take extra precautions when traveling overseas and suggested they s i

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WASHINGTON (AP) _ The United States issued a global travel alert Friday, citing an al-Qaida car rental los angeles threat that also caused the State Department to close 21 embassies and consulates this weekend in the Muslim world.
Current information suggests that al-Qaida and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks both in the region car rental los angeles and beyond, and that they may focus efforts to conduct attacks in the period between now and the end of August, car rental los angeles the statement said.
It urged American car rental los angeles travelers to take extra precautions when traveling overseas and suggested they s ign up for State Department alerts car rental los angeles and register with U.S. consulates in the countries they are visiting.
Spokeswoman Marie Harf said the department acted out of an abundance of caution and that some missions may stay closed for longer than a day. Sunday is a business day in Muslim countries. The diplomatic offices affected stretch from Mauritania in northwest car rental los angeles Africa to Afghanistan.
We ve had a series of threats, Royce told reporters. In this instance, we can take a step to better protect our personnel and, out of an abundance car rental los angeles of caution, we should. He declined to say if the National Security Agency s much-debated surveillance program helped reveal car rental los angeles the threat.
The State Department issued a major warning car rental los angeles last year informing American diplomatic facilities across the Muslim world about potential violence connected to the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
In Benghazi, Libya, the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans were killed when militants assaulted a diplomatic post, but the administration no longer says that attack was related to the demonstrations.
Friday s alert warned that al-Qaida or its allies may target U.S. government or private American interests. It cited dangers involved with public transportation systems and other prime sites for tourists, noting that previous terrorist attacks have centered on subway and rail networks as well as airplanes and boats.
U.S. citizens should take every precaution to be aware of their surroundings and to adopt appropriate safety measures to protect themselves when traveling, car rental los angeles the department said. It recommended American traveling overseas register with consular authorities on a travel registration website. The alert expires on Aug. 31.