New U.S. Embassy Opens In Kenya

A new, heavily fortified U.S. Embassy was inaugurated Monday in Nairobi, 4½ years after a terrorist attack on the complex killed 219 people.

The four-story building is the first U.S. mission to be built from scratch since Congress authorized upgrades to diplomatic missions around the world after the Aug. 7, 1998 bombing.

A second new embassy was to be dedicated Tuesday in Dar es Salaam, the capital of neighboring Tanzania, where a nearly simultaneous attack killed 12 people and injured 80.

U.S. authorities blame Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network for both bombings. A U.S. federal court has convicted four men for their roles in the attacks and sentenced them to life in prison.

In a brief inauguration ceremony, U.S. Undersecretary for Management Grant Green told Kenyans the United States had not given in to terrorists by scaling back its presence. The embassy remains the largest in sub-Saharan Africa.

"From this new embassy today, we reaffirm our commitment to your democracy, security and struggle for economic betterment," Green said.

Earlier, Green joined Ambassador Johnnie Carson and U.S. Assistant Secretary for Africa Walter Kansteiner in laying wreaths at a small obelisk bearing the names of the 46 people - including 44 staff members - who were in the Embassy at the time of the attack. The other victims had been outside the complex.

Bill Prior, the U.S. State Department construction manager for the project, said the new embassy cost $68 million and meets security requirements.

The remains of the former embassy were razed and the site turned into a memorial park.

By Susan Linnee