The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Baku

Azerbaijani authorities have foiled a "terrorist" attack by a radical Islamic group against government facilities and diplomatic missions, including the US embassy, the Ministry for National Security said Monday.

"We averted attempts at terrorist acts against some state structures in the city of Baku, as well as embassies and diplomatic missions of member countries of the international anti-terrorist coalition," it said.

Ministry spokesman Arif Babayev told AFP the US embassy in Baku was among the targets.

Security was tight outside the embassy late Monday, with dozens of police standing guard.

Hours before the statement from the Azerbaijani government, Britain said it had closed its embassy in Baku, while the United States said it was limiting operations at its mission. Both cited security concerns.

The alert was unusual in Azerbaijan, a relatively peaceful corner of the troubled Caucasus region, despite the country's unresolved conflict with neighbouring Armenia over the tiny Nagorny Karabakh province.

According to the Ministry for National Security, one suspect was killed and two detained during a raid Saturday against alleged extremists near Baku. News agencies reported that the suspect had been shot and killed while trying to throw a hand grenade at police.

Large quantities of weapons and "extremist" literature were seized during the operation, the ministry said.