Koh Santepheap newspaper reports that Cambodian cops are still on guard in front of the embassy (one of them seems to be dozing off during work) (Photo: Bunry, Koh Santepheap)Thu Feb 21, 2008
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodia will deport a U.S. veteran who told journalists that militants were planning a rocket attack on the U.S embassy in Phnom Penh, deputy police chief Sok Phal said on Thursday.
Gerald Forbes, 63, of Hawaii, was arrested for sending e-mails to journalists asking them to spread the warning the embassy would be rocketed, then overrun, he said.
"He admitted he did it because he was angry with the slow reception of his pension. In fact there was no group to commit an act of terror," Sok Phal told Reuters without further explanation.
He said Forbes, in the country on a tourist visa, would be deported and never allowed to re-enter Cambodia.
"He has no money for a flight ticket, so we're arranging the ticket for him," Sok Phal said.
A U.S. spokesman said the embassy "never thought it a credible threat", but riot police were sent to guard the embassy on Monday night, when Forbes said the attack would take place.
(Reporting by Ek Madra; Editing by Michael Battye and Jerry Norton)
Gerald Forbes, 63, of Hawaii, was arrested for sending e-mails to journalists asking them to spread the warning the embassy would be rocketed, then overrun, he said.
"He admitted he did it because he was angry with the slow reception of his pension. In fact there was no group to commit an act of terror," Sok Phal told Reuters without further explanation.
He said Forbes, in the country on a tourist visa, would be deported and never allowed to re-enter Cambodia.
"He has no money for a flight ticket, so we're arranging the ticket for him," Sok Phal said.
A U.S. spokesman said the embassy "never thought it a credible threat", but riot police were sent to guard the embassy on Monday night, when Forbes said the attack would take place.
(Reporting by Ek Madra; Editing by Michael Battye and Jerry Norton)
