World

State Dept. Warns Travelers

October 6, 1999 / 12:28 PM EDT / AP

The State Department is warning Americans to take caution when traveling abroad after the Justice Department deports a Saudi man who reneged on a promise to cooperate with authorities investigating the 1996 Khobar Towers attack.

The deportation of Hani al-Sayegh had been scheduled for Wednesday, but his lawyer filed an emergency motion Tuesday with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia seeking to halt his expulsion.

The deportation order was issued after al-Sayegh backed out of a deal to help U.S. agents investigate the June 1996 bombing in Khobar, Saudi Arabia. The bombing killed 19 American airmen.

Al-Sayegh is alleged by Saudi officials to have driven a car that signaled the driver of an explosives-laden truck when to pull up to the Khobar Towers apartments, where the U.S. military personnel were living.

He had cut a deal with U.S. officials that called for him to plead guilty to participating in an unrelated plot against Americans in Saudi Arabia that was never carried out.

Prior to al-Sayegh's appeal Tuesday, the State Department said his anticipated deportation raises the potential for retaliatory action against Americans and U.S. interests worldwide.

A Â"worldwide cautionÂ" said the United States has increased security at U.S. government facilities worldwide and reminds private Americans to maintain a high level of vigilance.Â"

Â"All Americans should maintain a low profile, vary routes and times for all required travel and treat mail from unfamiliar sources with suspicion.Â"

Al-Sayegh has been seeking asylum in the United States on grounds that he would be subjected to torture if he were returned to Saudi Arabia.

His lawyer argued that Attorney General Janet Reno erred in denying his request for asylum under the United Nations Convention Against Torture, which the United States has signed.

Reno relied on assurances from the Saudis that al-Sayegh would not be tortured, but ignored evidence from international human rights groups, al-Sayegh's lawyer argued.

Justice Department officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said al-Sayegh would not be deported until the department heard from the court and that they were preparing a response to his motion.

In June 1997, Canada expelled al-Sayegh for alleged terrorist activity. Reno allowed him into the United States solely for prosecution under the deal.

Upon arrival, he reneged on the deal, claiming he had not understood it, knew nothing about the Khobar attack and was out of Saudi Arabia when the bombing occurred.