The Department of State has issued a travel advisory for the Middle East and parts of Northern Africa after receiving warnings of potential al Qaeda attacks. U.S. Embassies in these areas will close from August 3rd until further notice. U.S. intelligence indicated potential attacks against American and Western targets in the final days of Ramadan. Twenty-one U.S. Embassies will be closed, as well as U.S. Consulates in Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Jordan, the UAE, Bangladesh – for a complete, updated list, see the Department of State Alert: http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/tips_6037.html.