The gunmen, in two sport utility vehicles, approached the marines near a military training area and started firing, an embassy spokeswoman said.

Embassy officials decided to close the consulate through Friday, an embassy spokeswoman said.

The embassy spokeswoman, who asked not to be named, said this was a matter for the F.B.I. to decide.

Ms. Kalin, the embassy spokeswoman, said all embassy personnel were accounted for immediately after the attack.

An embassy spokeswoman said she had no specific information about who issued the threats or when.

An embassy spokeswoman confirmed the contact, but she declined to say anything more.

"Our hard line is the main Embassy building," Pamela Smith, the embassy spokeswoman, said.

"Obviously we're working with the police and we take it very seriously," said Donna Roginski, the embassy spokeswoman.

An embassy spokeswoman declined to say if there was any connection between the arrests and the embassy's closing.

An embassy spokeswoman equivocated later, saying he had "indicated his desire to have greater civilian participation" in the Government.