Washington: No immunity for foreign diplomats in Iraq
Iraq-USA, Politics, 5/30/2003

The US announced yesterday that all foreign diplomats working in Iraq have lost their diplomatic immunity they used to enjoy under the rule of Saddam Hussein.

The spokesman for the US Department Of State Richard Boucher said "they had submitted their credentials to a regime which is no longer exists and therefore this accreditation is dropped and they have no diplomatic status from now onward."

Boucher indicated that the headquarters of the diplomatic missions lost their immunity and privileges. However, he indicated in a later time he will investigate if the headquarters are protected.

However, the issue of diplomatic immunity was raised in Iraq for the first time when the American forces arrested one Palestinian diplomat and four Iraqis in Baghdad over having unlicensed weapons.

The Palestinian charge de affairs Najah Abdul Rahman denied to have had any weapons. He shouted upon his arrest "they inspected the embassy, they target the embassy." Boucher said yesterday that the US urges foreign diplomats not to come to Iraq because there is no Iraqi government to which they can submit their credentials. Boucher added that even the diplomats who entered Iraq at the consent of the US do not enjoy ant diplomatic immunity.

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