Western embassies shut in Jordan

In November, suicide bombers killed 60 people in Amman

Canada and Australia have closed their embassies in the Jordanian capital, Amman, amid concerns over security.

It comes a day after Britain announced it was closing its embassy in the city until further notice.

The UK Foreign Office said plans for terror attacks against Westerners were thought to be in the "final stages".

A Jordanian government spokesman said although it did not believe the closures were justified, security would be stepped up around the embassies.

In November, three suicide bombers killed 60 people and injured nearly 100 in attacks on three hotels in Amman.

Personal security

A statement by the Australian embassy warned travellers of a new threat but did not disclose details.

"Reports suggest terrorists may be in the final stages of planning attacks against Westerners and places frequented by Westerners in Jordan," it said.

"The Australian embassy will be closed until further notice due to the security situation."

A recorded message at Canada's foreign affairs ministry in Ottawa gave a similar warning.

It also urged Canadians in Jordan "to maintain a high level of personal security".

Jordanian government spokesman Nasser Judeh declined to give details of the security concerns.

"Jordan's security apparatus has analysed the nature of the threats and did not believe that they warranted closing any embassy," he said.

"Nevertheless, we take any threat seriously and that's why we have reinforced security around these embassies."

The US embassy in Amman remains open.

Britain has revised its travel advice, saying "sensible precautions" should be taken when visiting Jordan and extra care used at its borders with Israel and Iraq.

November's hotel blasts, which caused widespread anger in Jordan, were claimed by militant group al-Qaeda in Iraq, led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

In August, militants linked to Zarqawi were blamed for a rocket attack on US warships in the Red Sea port of Aqaba, in which a Jordanian soldier died.