Sources: Most staff for U.S. have left Iraqi capital

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Nearly all of the staff that represents U.S. interests in Baghdad have left Iraq on advice from their headquarters, diplomatic sources in the Iraqi capital said.

But the top official representing U.S. interests was not instructed to leave and is staying, the sources said.

In lieu of an embassy in Iraq, the United States has an interests section in the Polish Embassy.

The staff received instructions to leave last week, the sources said. The last of nine employees and their families -- all Polish nationals -- left Monday.

A White House official confirmed the report but said it is not a sign of a decision or action on a change of regime in Iraq.

It's "nothing about nothing really," the official said, calling the development part of the "normal back and forth we experience from time to time" over diplomatic travel restrictions and other low-level issues.

The news comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iraq. U.S. President Bush said Monday his administration would use "all the tools at our disposal" to oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. (Full story)

Iraq's National Assembly plans to convene Monday to "discuss the hostile American attitude," according to Iraq's state news agency, INA.