Security Tight at Southland Facilities : Gulf crisis: An Iraqi wanted on weapons and explosives charges may have approached March AFB.

Military bases, airports and nuclear plants are under tight security in Southern California today as a growing risk of war increased fear of terrorist attacks.

Those fears were heightened Tuesday by the possible sighting of an Iraqi sought by police on weapons and explosives charges.

Law enforcement agencies were on the lookout for Duraid S. Azawi, an Iraqi citizen charged with possession of an illegal firearm and what was believed to be an explosive device.

A car linked to Azawi was spotted near the main gate of March Air Force Base near Riverside on Tuesday, said Master Sgt. Clifford Meidlein.

“It (the car) did not enter, but U-turned and departed,” Meidlein said.

Authorities were unable to determine whether it was Azawi in the car.

March and other military bases were already at a high stage of security alert before the black Mazda RX-7 sports car was seen, officials said.

At the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, personnel were ordered to wear civilian clothing while commuting to and from the base.

“The order comes on the verge of heightened security measures implemented at all military installations across the globe due to possible terrorist actions,” Staff Sgt. Chuck DeMar said.

The Los Angeles City Council decided to get more metal detectors, and Los Angeles International Airport increased screening of baggage and passengers.

Tours of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant near San Luis Obispo were suspended this week, Pacific Gas & Electric spokesman Brad Thomas said.

Measures were also taken at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station south of San Clemente, Southern California Edison spokesman Paul Klein said. He declined to elaborate.

Rabbi Marvin Hier of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles said his organization has increased security. “We always take these matters very seriously, particularly now, when there’s never been a time like this for war,” Heir said. “We’re dealing with a person like Saddam Hussein who has a record of not being the most stable head of state around.”

Pacific Bell checked employee IDs, and security at the telephone company’s facilities was tightened, spokeswoman Charlene Baldwin said.