February 16, 2003	Sunday	Zul Hijjah 14, 1423

TORONTO, Feb 15: With the possibility of war in Iraq growing, Canadian residents in Kuwait have been warned to leave, the Canadian Press reported on Saturday.

It said Canadians living in Israel have also been told to “double-check” their travel documents and be ready to get out, if necessary.

Canadian embassies across the Middle East have sent letters to Canadian citizens urging vigilance and caution and suggesting they consider leaving the region unless their presence is essential. Canadian tourists are also being advised not to travel to the area.

Marie-Christine Lilkoff, a foreign affairs spokeswoman, said on Friday there is no specific threat to Canadians, but “heightened tensions, together with increased threats globally from terrorism, put Canadians at risk.”

The embassy in Kuwait City is evacuating its dependents and recommending other Canadian residents to follow suit. There are 3,222 Canadian residents registered with the embassy.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, a top-level officer in the defence department has tendered his resignation after the decision to send a peacekeeping force to Afghanistan.

Maj-Gen Cameron Ross, director-general of international security policy, decided to quit the military “for personal reasons”.

But the Canadian Press quoting reliable sources said Ross quit over Ottawa’s decision to send troops to a UN peacekeeping operation in Kabul, Afghanistan. Canada could send as many as 2,800 troops on each of two rotations.