Warden Message: U.S. Embassy Doha, Qatar, Temporary Closure

OSAC.gov ^ | May 18, 2009 | n/a

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

YOU ARE HERE: Home > Reports > Consular Affairs Bulletins > Report Warden Message: U.S. Embassy Doha, Qatar, Temporary Closure CONSULAR AFFAIRS BULLETINS Middle East / N. Africa - Qatar 18 May 2009

RELATED REPORTS 13 Jan 2009 WARDEN MESSAGE: DOHA, QATAR, PROTEST JANUARY 13

U.S. Embassy Doha issued the following Warden Message on May 18:

At approximately 9:00 a.m, on May 18 a suspicious powder was discovered at the U.S. Embassy in Doha, Qatar. The suspicious substance is being sent to a laboratory for analysis. Until the results are received and a determination is made that the substance does not pose health or safety risks, the Embassy will be temporarily closed to the public. All visa appointments and routine American citizen services will be postponed until the incident is resolved. The U.S. Embassy will immediately inform the American community and the public at large in a warden message and Embassy public announcement when the Embassy reopens.

The Embassy's consular section will remain available to provide emergency services to American citizens while the Embassy is closed. If you are an American citizen and need emergency assistance please call 496-6000.

U.S. citizens may also call the Office of Overseas Citizens Services in the United States for the latest travel information. The Office of Overseas Citizens Services can be reached from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, Monday through Friday, by calling 1-888-407-4747 from within the U.S. and Canada, or by calling (202) 501-4444 from other countries.

Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the U.S. Embassy in Doha's website, http://qatar.usembassy.gov, and the U.S. Department of State's travel website at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution and other Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts can be found. The U.S. Embassy also encourages U.S. citizens to review "A Safe Trip Abroad," found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html , which includes valuable security information for those both living and traveling abroad.

U.S. citizens living and residing in Qatar are advised to register their presence in the country through the U.S. Department of State's automated online registration system, https://travelregistration.state.gov. U.S. citizens may also contact the Consular Section at the U.S. Embassy via email at ACSconsularDoha@state.gov or by calling 496-6000, extension 6117 for routine services or extension 6600 for after hours emergencies.

[tuckrdout]

This literally happens every day. It will probably be fine.

I know of an embassy, where the secretaries were taken out and stripped and scrubbed in front of everyone; for a powder that turned out to be nothing!

[Buckeye McFrog]

I know of an embassy, where the secretaries were taken out and stripped and scrubbed in front of everyone; for a powder that turned out to be nothing!

...virtually ensuring that envelopes of powder kept arriving at the embassy every day thereafter....

[tuckrdout]

You were there?!