U.N. Puts Security Staff on 'High Alert'

The United Nations put its security staff on “high alert” Monday following the U.S. government’s decision to raise the threat of a terrorist attack to its second-highest level. Assistant Secretary-General Andrew Toh, who is in charge of security, sent an e-mail to some 5,000 staff at U.N. headquarters in New York urging them to go about their normal business but remain vigilant. Tom Ridge, head of the Department of Homeland Security, announced Sunday that the United States was raising the national terror alert warning to “Code Orange,” or high risk, from “Code Yellow” after warnings that the al-Qaida terror network may be plotting attacks against the United States during the holidays. In his note to U.N. staff, Toh said, “Accordingly, security officers in the United Nations have been placed on high alert and we seek the continued cooperation of staff and delegations in this regard.” Full Story