Several countries announced the closure of embassies in Iraq on Monday, while others ordered non-essential diplomats and other staff to leave the region.
Only hours earlier, US President George W Bush set a fresh deadline for the UN Security Council to sanction the use of force to disarm Iraq.
But despite the renewed pressure, there is no sign so far that either France or Russia - which have both threatened to use their veto - intend to change tack.
President Bush declared Monday would see the "moment of truth for the world", as he issued the deadline at a summit with the UK and Spanish prime ministers.
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