The US embassy in Iraq on Sunday has limited the movement of its personnel and citizens for the impending referendum on independence in northern Iraq, in particular in the disputed areas.

“US Mission Iraq will temporarily limit personnel movements as a precautionary measure. In particular, US citizens should avoid travel into and within territories disputed between the Kurdish Regional Government and the Government of Iraq,” the embassy said in a statement on its website.

It said that US citizens are at “high risk for kidnapping and terrorist violence in Iraq.”

The embassy advised the US citizens “to take appropriate measures to enhance their personal security at all times when living and working in Iraq,” according to the statement.

The US embassy is located in the heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses the main offices of the Iraqi government and many foreign embassies. The roughly 10-square km zone is located on the west bank of the Tigris River, which bisects the Iraqi capital.