US orders non-essential staff to leave Lahore

WASHINGTON - The United States on Thursday night ordered non-emergency staff from its consulate general in Lahore, Pakistan to leave, citing specific terror threats.

"The Department of State ordered the departure of non-emergency US government personnel from the US Consulate General in Lahore, Pakistan," the department said in an updated travel warning.

"The Department of State ordered this drawdown due to specific threats concerning the US consulate in Lahore," it added.

The move followed an evacuation of non-essential embassy staff out of the Yemeni capital of Sanaa on Tuesday by US Air Force.

"The presence of several foreign and indigenous terrorist groups poses a potential danger to US citizens throughout Pakistan," the travel warning noted. "Across the country, terrorist attacks frequently occur against civilian, government and foreign targets."

It advised US citizens against making non-essential travels to the South Asian nation.

The State Department is extending the closure of 19 US diplomatic missions until this Saturday in anticipation of terror attacks based on intercepted communications purported to be between al-Qaida leader Ayman Zawahri and Nasser Wuhayshi, head of the Yemen-based al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.