TIRANA, Albania -- With the U.S. Embassy in Albania shut down for fear of a terrorist attack and its dependents and nonessential personnel sent home, a company of Marines flew in yesterday to stand guard over those remaining.

"We are told there is a high threat out there," said Maj. Frank Carroll, the commander of the Marine reinforcement, which was hurriedly diverted from nearby NATO maneuvers to protect the few U.S. diplomats left in this capital.

The fears apparently stemmed from reports of the arrest in Albania of another Islamic fundamentalist belonging to the militant Egyptian Islamic Jihad organization, who, if extradited, could face execution by the authorities in Cairo.

Pub Date: 8/16/98