Eighteen of 19 U.S. embassies, consulates closed recently will reopen.

Most embassies to reopen after al-Qaeda threat

 (Photo: By Mohammad Hannon, AP)

Eighteen of 19 of U.S. embassies and consulates across the Middle East, Asia and Africa closed recently will reopen on Sunday, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki announced in a statement released Friday evening.

The U.S. embassy in Sanaa, Yemen, will remain closed, Psaki added, because of continuing concerns about a threat for potential terrorist attacks by al Qaeda.

The U.S. consulate in Lahore, Pakistan, which shut down yesterday do to a separate threat also will remain closed, Psaki announced in the statement.

"We will continue to evaluate the threats to Sanaa and Lahore and make subsequent decisions about the reopening of those facilities based on that information," she said. "We will also continue to evaluate information about these and all of our posts and to take appropriate steps to best protect the safety of our personnel, American citizens traveling overseas and visitors to our facilities."

The State Department announced on Sunday that it would extend closings already in place for a celebration at the end of Ramadan out of "an abundance of caution."

The statement released Sunday added, "This is not an indication of a new threat stream, merely an indication of our commitment to exercise caution and take appropriate steps to protect our employees including local employees and visitors to our facilities."

Story Highlights

•     State Department initially announced closures last Sunday, citing caution

•     Embassy in Yemen will remain closed due to 'continuing concerns'

•     Consulate in Pakistan, closed separately, will remain closed due to another threat