Jerusalem, May. 13 (AP): Israel today raised the level of alert at its embassies around the world, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said, after security guards shot dead a man carrying a fake bomb outside the Israeli Embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Shalom told Israel Radio that the high alert - entailing stepped up patrols at each embassy - was in place until further notice. "There are many groups always trying to attack Israeli missions ... We have to always be prepared," Shalom said. "The alert will be continued as long as the situation warrants it."

Also, the Foreign Ministry cancelled a trade delegation of Israeli businessmen to Uzbekistan, fearing for their safety, Shalom said.