US orders some government employees to leave Iraq

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Some US government employees from the US Embassy in Baghdad and its consulate in Erbil have been ordered to leave Iraq.

In a statement, the US State Department said: "Normal visa services at both posts will be temporarily suspended".

A US State Department spokesman said the decision to withdraw the staff was based on escalating tensions between Washington and Iran.

He, however, didn't give details on how many personnel were leaving.

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