US Closing Embassies in Muslim World

　　The United States is closing its embassies and consulates² throughout the Muslim world this Sunday after receiving an unspecified threat.

 

　　The US State Department says it's taking the action out of an "abundance of caution."

 

　　State Department spokesperson Marie Harf says they have information indicating a threat to US facilities overseas.

 

　　She says some US diplomatic facilities may stay closed for more than a day.

 

　　"The Department of State has instructed certain US embassies and consulates to remain closed or to suspend operations on Sunday, August 4. The Department has been apprised³ of information that out of an abundance of caution and care for our employees and others who may be visiting our installations that indicates we should institute these precautionary steps. The department, when conditions warrant, takes steps like this to balance our continued operations with security and safety."

 

　　American diplomatic missions in Europe, Latin America and many other places are closed on Sunday.

 

　　However, Sunday is a work day in most of the Muslim world.

 

　　The move by the US State Department is the biggest major warning to its diplomatic missions since last year's anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks.

 

　　That anniversary led to major protests outside numerous US diplomatic missions in the Muslim world.

 

　　It also saw a major terrorist attack on the US consulate¹ in Benghazi, Libya which left the Ambassador and three other Americans dead.

1 consulate   

n.领事馆

参考例句：

• The Spanish consulate is the large white building opposite the bank.西班牙领事馆是银行对面的那栋高大的白色建筑物。
• The American consulate was a magnificent edifice in the centre of Bordeaux.美国领事馆是位于波尔多市中心的一座宏伟的大厦。

2 consulates   

n.领事馆( consulate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Consulates General of The People's Republic at Los Angeles. 中华人民共和国驻洛杉矶总领事馆。 来自互联网
• The country's embassies, consulates and other diplomatic missions stationed in other countries. （七）家驻外使馆、馆和其他外交代表机构。 来自互联网

3 apprised   

v.告知，通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 )；评价

参考例句：

• We were fully apprised of the situation. 我们完全获悉当时的情况。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I have apprised him of your arrival. 我已经告诉他你要来。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》