United States government facilities in South Africa reopened today after being shut down over a security threat earlier in the week, according to dpa. The US embassy in Pretoria; US consulates in Johannnesburg, Durban and Cape Town; and USAID offices in Pretoria were closed down on Tuesday over an unspecified security threat. The shutdown was later extended to Wednesday. As Thursday was a national holiday in South Africa, the buildings remained closed for a third day. The embassy said it had received information about a "credible" threat from its regional security office and that it pertained only to South Africa. But it gave no further details. In a statement on its website announcing its reopening, the embassy thanked the "the South African Government, and in particular the South African Police Service (SAPS) Division: Crime Intelligence, for outstanding cooperation and support." A leading Johannesburg radio broadcaster, the privately-owned 702 station, said the threat was allegedly made by an al-Qaeda splinter group.
