Interpol has issued a global security alert amid growing fears of a potential al-Qaeda attack.

The international police agency says it follows the escape of hundreds of terrorists and other criminals during jail breaks across the Middle East.

France is the latest western country to close its embassy in Yemen in the face of the elevated threat - the U.S has closed 22 across the Middle East.

General Martin Dempsey is chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - and says it's a sensible move: