WASHINGTON, Jan 24: The US State Department warned its citizens around the world on Friday to prepare themselves for “sudden travel” away from their countries of residence.

“American citizens should always be prepared to depart a country quickly if necessary,” the department said in a cable that was to be sent to all 260 US embassies and consulates around the world.

A senior department official declined to comment when asked whether the cable was related to tensions with Iraq. But US officials have noted the possibility that war with Iraq could prompt outbursts of anti-American violence or terrorist attacks.

The official said the cable was not routine, but not unprecedented either.

The cable instructed each post to issue warning messages to US citizens advising them to fill medical prescriptions and prepare travel documents and food supplies so they could leave on short notice in the event of personal emergencies, political or economic unrest, natural disasters or terrorist attacks, a State Department spokesman said, reading from talking points about the cable.

“In the past year, the department intervened to assist in the emergency departure of American citizens for various reasons from countries throughout the world,” the spokesman said. “These include Cote d’Ivoire, Central African Republic, Indonesia, Israel, Venezuela and others.”

AFP adds: “The department is asking all US embassies and consulates worldwide to send a warden message to local American communities with advice on preparedness for an emergency,” said Susan Pittman, a department spokeswoman.

A senior department official said earlier that the cable had not been sent specifically in anticipation of a conflict with Iraq but pointedly would not deny that that possibility was behind the timing of the instruction.

The official said such instructions had been sent in the past but refused to describe Friday’s cable as “totally routine.”—dpa/AFP