A South African newspaper says a threat from an al-Qaida splinter group prompted this week's closure of the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria and other U.S. facilities.
The Pretoria News says the group telephoned the embassy Monday and apparently gave detailed information about possible attacks against several U.S. government buildings in South Africa.
The newspaper says its information is from "well-placed security sources." It cites an intelligence source as saying the call to the embassy is believed to have come from South Africa.
That source says the threat may have been prompted by the September 14 killing of alleged al-Qaida operative Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan in Somalia by U.S. forces.
U.S. officials have refused to disclose any details about the threat that prompted them to close the embassy, three consulates, and U.S. aid offices on Tuesday.
The facilities are scheduled to reopen on Friday.
Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.
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