WASHINGTON - The United States has indications al Qaeda is planning an attack against a target in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa, a senior aide to President Barack Obama said on Sunday.

John Brennan, Obama's assistant for homeland security and counterterrorism, told CNN's State of the Union that there are indications that al Qaeda is planning an attack against a target in Sanaa.

The United States closed its embassy in Sanaa on Sunday, saying it had taken the action in response to ongoing threats by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula to attack American interests in Yemen.

We know that al Qaeda is out there. We know we have to mind our steps, Brennan added.

A Nigerian man, who attempted and failed to bomb a U.S. aircraft carrying 300 people on Christmas Day, is believed to have received training from the militant group in Yemen.

Al Qaeda said the attempted bombing was in retaliation to U.S. involvement in Yemen and its military support for the Yemeni government, which launched an offensive against the Islamist group.

(Reporting by Alan Elsner)

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