Nine out of 44 Iraqi diplomatic mission refuse to return home
Iraq, Politics, 6/13/2003

The chairman of the committee in charge of following up works of the Iraqi foreign ministry, assigned by the Americans, Ghassan Hussein announced yesterday that nine heads of the 44 Iraqi diplomatic missions abroad, who were summoned by the ministry refused to return back to the country.

Hussein who occupied the post of the chairman of the political department at the ministry and in charge of Asia, Africa and Southern America said that "the date for a final return back was set for June 6 and at that date 9 ( ambassadors) were late, including Iraq's representative at the UN Muhammad al-Douri."

Al-Douri was in charge of defending his country's position at the UN Security Council in the deliberations concerning mass destruction weapons. He was recently in the UAE.

Among other diplomats who did not return are Iraq's ambassador to Belgium, Qatar, Egypt and China. The official disclosed that the ministry will reopen consulate departments very soon in several states and first of all in Amman and then in other states adjoining Iraq with the aim to issue passports and administrative documents."

Meantime, an official woman at the ministry said that 144 out of 1400 employees at the ministry were sacked in the framework of getting rid off Baathists, after their salaries were paid until May.

On the other hand, the Iraqi foreign ministry warned foreign diplomats yesterday that they cannot stay in Baghdad except at their own personal responsibility.

US administrator of Iraq, Paul Bremer, had given the Iraqis a grace period until June 15 to hand over their heavy weapons. As from that date, Bremer bans having light weapons outside the houses with the exception of persons who are permitted by the US-led forces.

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