Islamabad: Specific security threat today (July 5, 2004) forced the US Embassy in Pakistan to cancel a scheduled reception marking American Independence Day while the British High Commission was temporarily closed.

The US Embassy has cancelled its Independence Day reception after it received a security threat while the British High Commission temporarily closed for the same reason, Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesman Masood Khan told in Islamabad.

Declining to reveal details of the threat, he said security has been further tightened at both highly protected missions. "There is no cause for worry. All precautions have been taken," he said.

The US Embassy too has formally announced that it has cancelled the reception but did not give details.