Bali bombing: The Aftermath

The Foreign Office has told Britons abroad they now face a greater risk of terrorist attack.

Travel to the Middle East has been explicitly advised against and British citizens have already been told to leave Iraq.

War against Iraq was described as "imminent" in the official documents released during Wednesday night.

Urgent new travel advice was issued on Wednesday, stating that "the risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks in public places, including tourist sites, will be especially high during military action in Iraq".

The Foreign Office also issued new advice relating to Jordan, advising against all travel to the kingdom - citing an "increased threat from terrorism to the safety of British nationals".

"There is also a risk of the use of chemical and biological weapons by Iraq in the event of hostilities. Jordan might be affected," the warning said.

British nationals already in Jordan were told to leave "while air routes remain open" unless their presence was deemed essential.

In a further sign of government anxiety at reprisal attacks on Britons, officials advised travellers and ex-patriots to "to adopt a low profile, minimise travel and practice sensible security precautions".

Britons living in Kuwait, Israel and the Occupied Territories, Jordan, Bahrain, Syria, Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia were warned that in the event of a chemical or biological attack, they should follow the local authorities' and emergency services' instructions.

The government also gave journalists inside Iraq a final opportunity to leave the country before the military onslaught begins.

"All British citizens, including representatives of the media, should leave Iraq immediately," the Foreign Office said.

"Iraqi authorities may seek to use for military purposes sites which include journalists' accommodation and offices, and may seek to persuade journalists to move to sites close to possible military targets in order to deter attacks on those sites," they said.

"There is also a risk to journalists' safety from possible breakdown in law and order in the aftermath of the commencement of any military action."