The South Korean embassy in Iraq has asked South Korean nationals in Baghdad to evacuate to South Korea or to a third country, citing worsening security conditions in the city.

The embassy asked South Korean residents in Iraq through its Internet website Thursday to refrain from leaving their homes and to take extra safety cautions, as well as to contact the embassy in emergency situations.

According to embassy officials, militant forces have recently begun raiding civilian households to demand their full cooperation in carrying out terrorist activities.