Vatican Keeping Embassy Open

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican said Friday that it had no intention of shutting its embassy in Iraq if war breaks out, although other governments are closing their missions and evacuating staff.

A statement by papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls called it a "time-honored tradition" that Vatican diplomats remain near the people they are serving "even in situations of extreme danger."

A number of embassies in Baghdad are closing and the United Nations is evacuating expatriate staff in expectation of a U.S.-led war to disarm President Saddam Hussein. The Spanish and German governments warned Friday against trips to Iraq and urged their citizens to leave the country.