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Breaking News

Yemen: Terrorist Attack on U.S. Embassy Narrowly Averted

Aired June 18, 2001 - 12:23   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news out of Washington now.

Let's go to our Jeanne Meserve -- Jeanne.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, this information coming to us from Andrea Koppel, our correspondent at the State Department.

She is reporting that several administrations sources have told her that the U.S. Embassy in Yemen in recent days was not only targeted by terrorists, but came dangerously close to actually being attacked -- one administration source telling her, "We dodged a serious attack. The threat was imminent, specific, and it was credible."

You will recall that last week the State Department issued a travel advisory for Americans in Yemen and withdrew all nonessential embassy personnel. And CNN has also been told that the FBI withdrew investigators from Yemen on Sunday because of a perceived threat to them -- those investigators there to investigate the bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen.

So, once again, from Andrea Koppel: the U.S. Embassy in Yemen not only dangerously -- not only targeted by terrorists, but also dangerously close to being attacked -- Daryn, now back to you.

KAGAN: All right, Jeanne, thank you for the latest. More on that just ahead.

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