US to close embassies on Sunday over security fears

The United States has announced that it will close certain embassies and consulates -- mostly in Muslim dominated countries on August 4 due to unspecified security reasons. "The department of state has instructed certain US embassies and consulates to remain closed or to suspend operations on Sunday, August 4th," the state department spokesperson, Marie Harf.

"The department has been apprised of information that, out of an abundance of caution and care for our employees and others who may be visiting our installations that indicates we should institute these precautionary steps," she said, without giving further details.

"The department, when conditions warrant, takes steps like this to balance our continued operations with security and safety," Harf said, without giving the names of the countries.

According to a senior state department official, the US has instructed all US embassies and Consulates that would have normally been open on Sunday to suspend operations, specifically on August 4.

"It is possible we may have additional days of closing as well," the official said adding that the state department has been apprised of information that indicates the US should institute these precautionary steps.

"We have taken this measure out of an abundance of caution and care for our employees and others who may be visiting our installations.

According to NBC News, officials said the threat originated in the Middle East and mentioned al-Qaeda. Posts in Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar have put out messages informing the public that they will be closed on Sunday, which is a workday in many Muslim countries.