[url]http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=330CD18F-FCE8-4FEC-9F74B33AB4C1E92B[/url]

Intercepted Terrorist 'Chatter' Indicates New Attacks

VOA News
16 May 2003, 20:16 UTC

U.S. and British officials are reporting a wave of electronically intercepted "chatter" among suspected terrorists that points to new attacks in the Mideast, East Africa and Asia.

The officials say the "chatter" may be even more definitive than that prior to Monday's car bombings in Riyadh.

One week before the Riyadh bombings that killed 34 people, a top U.S. diplomat used such intercepted information to warn Saudi Arabia of the impending attack.

Now, intelligence officials say the chatter indicates terrorists are building up to doing something in the next few days. As one official put it, "In some cases, the bullets have already left the gun."

To protect its citizens, Britain has suspended flights to and from Kenya and is warning its citizens to be on guard in six more east African countries - Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Somalia, Eritrea and Djibouti.

The U.S. State Department is warning of a possible imminent attack in the Saudi port city of Jeddah. It also says there may be attacks using shoulder-fired missiles in Kenya, and attacks by other means in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

The officials say targets could be places frequented by Americans and other Westerners such as housing complexes, businesses, public transportation sites such as bus stops and train stations.

To help prevent future attacks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia has posted extra police and national guard troops throughout the city. Sixty U.S. agents have joined the hunt for those behind Monday's bombings.

-- At least 20 dead in Morocco car bombings, official MAP news agency reports.
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