American Diplomats Leave Lebanon
<i> Reuters</i>
BEIRUT —
American diplomats in Lebanon have left the country, fearing an Arab backlash because of the war in the Persian Gulf, security officials said Friday.
They said Ambassador Ryan Crocker and his staff flew to Cyprus by helicopter after Palestinian and Arab extremist groups threatened to attack U.S. interests to avenge air strikes by the U.S.-led coalition on Iraq.
Crocker took up his post in Lebanon in November, 14 months after his embassy was closed because of threats by Christian hard-liners.
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