Houdieda, Yemen - Yemen will pursue and bring to justice those responsible for the terrorist attack on the US embassy, President Ali Abdullah Saleh said late Thursday.

In a speech at the Red Sea port city of Houdieda, Saleh said the attack "did not target the US embassy, but rather the Yemeni nation."

"The nation is being targeted by terrorism. I promise you, I promise all the sons of this nation, that we will pursue them in their villages and districts until they are captured and brought to justice," he said.

"Attacks on foreigners are not just against them but against the nation, against the development of the nation, against the stability of the country. They are condemned and rejected."

The United States government on Thursday advised Americans to avoid travelling to Yemen following the deadliest attack on a US embassy in more than 10 years.

Al-Qaeda is believed to be behind the attack on the embassy in Sana'a that left 16 people dead, including six militants.

US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack confirmed Thursday that a US woman, 18-year-old Susan Elbaneh, was among those killed outside the embassy grounds.

The terrorists attacked with two car bombs while other armed men tried unsuccessfully to breach the compound walls.

The Yemeni government on Thursday said it had arrested 20 suspected Islamist extremists in connection with the attacks.

A US team has been dispatched to Yemen to join the investigation, McCormack said. (dpa)