The United States embassy in Malaysia went through an uneventful day on the first anniversary of the Sept 11 attacks amid anticipation of trouble following a high security alert it issued yesterday.

Two police trucks and some 30 armed personnel had been stationed around the embassy since 6am this morning.

A helicopter hovered above the area every now and then. Jalan Tun Razak, where the embassy is situated, was busier with traffic than usual as the road was down to two lanes from three in front of the embassy; barricades occupied the lane nearest to the embassy grounds.

Yesterday, the embassy had announced that it would be closed today following the discovery of a "credible and specific threat" to its security.

In another statement released today, it said the embassy will remain closed "until further notice".

It had also urged American citizens here to be "extremely cautious during the coming days".

Everything 'okay'

When contacted, an embassy spokesperson refused to elaborate on the threat.

He said the embassy had not organised any activity in conjunction with the Sept 11 attacks except a memorial service but that was cancelled due to the closure today.

The embassy was the site of several anti-US demonstrations organised by mostly Muslim-based groups and parties following the American-led attack on the Taliban in Afghanistan last October.

Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur acting police chief Dell Akbar Khan described the situation within the vicinity of the US embassy as "okay".

"[N]othing wrong. Everything was under control. We have deployed personnel there since yesterday after the embassy requested for increased security measures," he said when contacted.

"We have also done the same with the British High Commission and Australia High Commission nearby," he added.

He said whether the measures are still necessary after today would depend on the discussion between the US embassy and the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman.

Dell also said the atmosphere in the Petronas Twin Towers was not as tense as what the public had thought.

"I just came from that area. Everyone was relaxed and walking around. It is just like any other normal day," he said.

International news agency AFP had earlier reported that hundreds of people whose offices are located in the Petronas Twin Towers failed to turn up for work today.

The 88-storey building, the tallest in the world, was once evacuated due to a bomb threat hours after the Sept 11 attacks in US, which turned out to be a hoax.