'Threat' shuts US embassy in UAE

The US embassy in the United Arab Emirates has been shut because of "a specific threat".

"The embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai have temporarily suspended operations... " the official statement said.

The statement said this was "in light of a specific threat to the embassy in Abu Dhabi".

The US has warned that Americans may be the target of attacks after the killing of Hamas spiritual head Sheikh Yassin.

An embassy spokeswoman said the UAE the security situation would be reviewed over Thursday and Friday, when the US offices regularly close, to determine whether it would reopen on Saturday.

"We have no specific threat information against the American community in the UAE," the spokeswoman added.