ISLAMABAD, Jan 26: The staff of the US embassy in Pakistan has been advised to return home in case the United States attacks Iraq, a reliable source told Dawn.

The embassy on Saturday received a fax from the US State Department which tells the staff to take precautionary measures because of possible reaction in Muslim countries in case of the US attack.

The sources said diplomats were waiting for the final call for departure.

However, an official of the embassy denied the possibility of repatriation of the staff. The official, requesting anonymity, told Dawn that the embassy had not received any fax in this regard.

An interior ministry spokesman expressed ignorance about the US advice to its diplomats. “We have not received any information about it.

However, security has been tightened in the vicinity of the United States embassy,” he said.