Obama was target of murder plot by Syrian
Obama was target of murder plot by SyrianIsrael News Photo

Turkish officials arrested a Syrian living in Istanbul for plotting to kill President Barack Obama during his visit in Turkey, according to foreign media. The would-be assassin has so far been named only by the initials "M.G." He was carrying press credentials for the Arabic language Al Jazeera satellite network, according to the Saudi Arabian newspaper Al Watan. Al Jazeera denied any knowledge of the arrested man and said that his press card could have been forged.

The arrest took place last Friday but was not revealed until Tuesday. Journalists accompanying the president said security checks have become more extensive than they were last week.

The president was never in any danger, and his schedule was not interrupted. American officials noted that presidents frequently are targets of death threats, and that these have increased with the election of the country's first black leader.

United States Secret Service officials made no comment except to say that they "work closely with the host country whenever there is an arrest, which we are doing in this matter."



Al Watan reported that the suspect confessed that he and three accomplices were planning to kill Obama with a knife during the president's appearance at a Monday evening conference in Istanbul.