The United States said it would allow its nonessential diplomats to leave Saudi Arabia due to increased security fears, and advised US citizens in the kingdom to consider departing, news reports said late Wednesday.
Due to security concerns, the State Department has authorized the departure of family members and non-emergency employees of the US embassy and consulates on a voluntary basis, an official announcement said.
Private American citizens should evaluate their own security situations and should consider departing the country, it said in the third US travel warning for Saudi Arabia issued this month and the second in nine days.
A State Department official was quoted by a news agency that the new warning had not been prompted by a specific new threat but was rather the result of an overall review of the security situation in Saudi Arabia.
The US government will cover travel expenses for US officials and family members who volunteer to leave. (Albawaba.com)
