The suicide bombers who killed 29 people in Casablanca last week were linked to international terrorism, Morocco said today. Interior Minister Mustapha Sahel said interrogation of two would-be attackers established the link.‘‘The arrest of the two terrorists still alive has led to progress in terms of information,’’ he said. Sahel said 12 Casablanca attackers died by blowing themselves up, not 13 as initially reported.‘‘One terrorist was apprehended that same night and security services arrested a 14th one on Sunday night,’’ he said. Foreign Minister Mohamed Benaissa said authorities did not know who was behind the bombings but ‘‘similarities of the action lead us to believe that there is a foreign hand behind it’’. Benaissa said one would not find ‘‘an organisation of this magnitude which would carry out such acts in Casablanca.if it’s not been backed by experienced organisations outside Morocco’’. (Reuters) Fearing attacks, US, Britain close officesRiyadh: The US Embassy in Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday it would close some missions in the kingdom on Wednesday over fears of more attacks against unspecified targets after devastating suicide bombings in Riyadh last week. ‘‘In response to information that some strikes may be imminent, the Embassy and consulates general in Jeddah and Dhahran will be closed on May 21, 2003,’’ the Embassy said in a statement. It said they would not reopen before May 25. The statement gave no further details and Saudi officials were not available for comment. Britain also announced that its diplomatic missions throughout Saudi Arabia, including its Embassy in Riyadh, will close on May 21, because of an ‘‘imminent’’ terrorist threat, the foreign office said in London. (Agencies)
