U.S. to reopen 18 diplomatic missions after threat

WASHINGTON — The State Department says that 18 of the 19 U.S. embassies and consulates in the Middle East and Africa that have been closed due to a terrorist threat will reopen on Sunday or Monday.

Officials say the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa, Yemen, will remain closed.

A statement issued Friday didn’t cite a reason for resuming regular business operations at the 18 diplomatic missions.

Nineteen outposts had been closed to the public since last Sunday. Most American employees at the U.S. Embassy in Yemen were ordered to leave the country on Tuesday because of threat information.

An intercepted message between al-Qaida officials about plans for a major terror attack triggered the closures.

A separate threat led to the closure Thursday of the U.S. Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan. It remains closed.