UN, Britain to evacuate kids from Pakistan

In New York, Farhan Haq, a UN spokesman, described the move as “a precautionary measure... so that the family members of staff, as well as some non-essential staff, can be relocated temporarily to other sites.”

“All essential staff will remain on duty, and all UN work will proceed as normal,” he added. “This is a temporary measure and the United Nations intends to return to regular staffing levels as soon as conditions allow.”

The British Foreign office said separately overnight that more than 60 children of British diplomats will be withdrawn from Islamabad over the next few weeks.

They are all aged under eight, as older children tend to attend boarding school in Britain.

“Following a review of security in the wake of the attack on the Marriott Hotel, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has decided that the children of UK-based staff at the British High Commission in Islamabad should return to the UK,” a spokesman told AFP.

Any dependents, such as spouses, could return to Britain if they chose.