US to pull some diplomats from Saudi, cites threat

WASHINGTON, April 15 (Reuters) - The United States will order some nonessential diplomats on Thursday to leave Saudi Arabia because the "threat level" has risen in the U.S. oil supplier, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said.

The decision will also force the families of all diplomats at the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh and U.S. consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran to leave the close U.S. ally. Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Osama bin Laden, is battling a wave of violence believed linked to his al Qaeda network.

At least 50 people died last year in suicide bomb attacks on housing compounds in Riyadh and on Tuesday suspected Muslim militants killed four Saudi police officers at checkpoints soon after security forces defused two car bombs in the capital.

"We are concerned. The threat level has gone up and in light of the threat level and the information we have received ... we will be having ... (an) ordered departure announcement later this afternoon," Powell told reporters, using the U.S. term for ordering some diplomats and all dependents to leave.

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