Jordan Says It Helped Lebanon Stave Off Attacks on Embassies

Jordanian and Lebanese security authorities helped derail terrorist plots over the weekend against U.S., British, Jordanian and other embassies in Lebanon, government officials here said Tuesday.

The officials declined to say who was behind the attempts but suggested that it was a group linked to Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect in the Sept. 11 terror attacks in the United States.

A Lebanese security official denied the Jordanian account, saying the security situation in the country was stable. The official spoke on condition of anonymity.

However, Lebanese authorities have stepped up security measures in the last week at diplomatic missions and interests of Western countries and those allied with the United States, apparently acting on information that they might be targeted.

The Jordanian officials would not elaborate on the steps Jordanian authorities took after receiving tips about the terrorist plots against American, British, Jordanian and other embassies in Beirut, the Lebanese capital.

One of the officials identified the group that had planned the reported attacks as Asbat al-Ansar, which is on a U.S. list of terrorist organizations believed linked to Bin Laden. It is an Islamic extremist group believed to be based in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el Hilwa in Lebanon.

Asbat al-Ansar officials, who went underground shortly after the U.S. military campaign in Afghanistan began, were not available for comment Tuesday.

Al Dustur, Jordan’s second-largest newspaper, quoted Jordanian Information Minister Saleh Qallab as saying, “Two days ago, security authorities foiled terrorist plots against a number of our embassies abroad.” He did not mention the other diplomatic missions.

The Jordanian officials confirmed Qallab’s remarks.