Bomb Alert at U.S. Consulate in Milan Lifted

A bomb alert that forced the evacuation of a US consulate in Italy on Tuesday has been lifted, reports said, amid fears of an imminent al-Qaida attack.

The alert was raised after a suspicious package was found at the consulate in the Italian business hub of Milan, but no explosives were found, according to leading daily Corriere della Sera.

The ANSA news agency said earlier that the consulate had received a letter referring to an explosive device.

The United States has closed two dozen U.S. embassies in the Middle East and north Africa after its spies intercepted militant communications, reportedly including an attack order from al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.

On Tuesday it evacuated dozens of diplomatic staff from Yemen after its spies intercepted militant communications, reportedly including an attack order from Zawahiri.