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Non-essential US diplomats to leave four Mideast countries
Washington, Feb 08: The US State Department plans to advise non-essential US diplomats and family members to leave Israel, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, two US officials have said.
Washington, Feb 08: The US State Department plans to advise non-essential US diplomats and family members to leave Israel, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, two US officials have said.
Also expected was a travel warning advising Americans to stay away from Iraq.
The moves coincide with growing indications that President Bush may authorise the use of force against Iraq to get rid of its weapons of mass destruction. The diplomats and the family members would go home at US expense, leaving only essential American personnel at the US embassies in Tel Aviv, Amman, Damascus and Beirut.
The decision was made on the advice of American diplomats in the embassies. It was not based on a specific threat to US personnel but on the security situation generally, said one of the two officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Hundreds of US diplomats and family members could be involved in the departures.
Bureau Report
The moves coincide with growing indications that President Bush may authorise the use of force against Iraq to get rid of its weapons of mass destruction. The diplomats and the family members would go home at US expense, leaving only essential American personnel at the US embassies in Tel Aviv, Amman, Damascus and Beirut.
The decision was made on the advice of American diplomats in the embassies. It was not based on a specific threat to US personnel but on the security situation generally, said one of the two officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Hundreds of US diplomats and family members could be involved in the departures.
Bureau Report