U.S. President Barack Obama's top national security advisers held a meeting on Saturday to discuss "potential threats occurring in or emanating from the Arabian Peninsula," the White House said.


"This afternoon, National Security Advisor (Susan) Rice chaired a meeting with the Principals Committee to further review the situation and follow-up actions," the White House said in a statement, referring to the advisers group.


"The president has received frequent briefings over the last week on all aspects of the potential threat and our preparedness measures," it said.


Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel were among those who attended the meeting, the White House said.


On Friday, the U.S. issued a global travel alert, citing an al-Qaeda threat that also caused the State Department to announce it would close its embassies this Sunday around the Muslim world.


The advisory prompted Canada's Foreign Affairs Department to release its own warning for travellers and diplomats in the Middle East and North Africa region. The department stated that Canadians are at a reasonably "elevated risk" of attack due to the threat facing a "close friend and ally."


Canada has shuttered its high comission office in Bangladesh on Sunday and Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is advising Canadians travelling in the region to exercise added caution.


Britain, France and Germany are closing their embassies in Yemen on Sunday and Monday.


With files from CBC and the Associated Press