Egypt confirms the killing of its ambassador in Iraq
Egypt-Iraq, Politics, 7/8/2005

Egypt has confirmed yesterday the killing of its top diplomat kidnapped in Iraq, Ehab al-Sharif, but refused to withdraw its diplomatic mission from Baghdad as a result of recent developments.

The Egyptian Presidency said in a statement that "this terrorist act will not undermine Egypt from its supportive role to Iraq and its people and for the Arab nation and its causes."

The Egyptian foreign minister Ahmad Abu al-Gheit announced before the announcement of Sharif's killing that the Egyptian diplomatic mission from Baghdad will not be pulled out.

Meantime, al-Qaida organization in Iraq announced on Thursday it had killed the Egyptian diplomat Eyab al-Sharif who has been held by the organization since several days. The statement of al-Qaida organization on the Internet said "we, al-Qaida organization in Mesopotamia announce that the order of the God was implemented in the ambassador of 'unbelievers' in Egypt." The statement added that Sharif made statements, and his admissions were registered.

The statement criticized the "Egyptian regime." It said that the "first side which made a war against Islam and Muslims is the Egyptian regime since several decades." It added that "jails in Egypt are filled with al-Mujahideen and the Egyptian courts sentenced several monotheists to death including our great Sheikh Ayman al-Zawahiri," in remarks to the second ranking man in al-Qaida organization who is sentenced in absentia in Egypt.

In a direct link between the kidnapping of al-Sharif and the situation in Iraq, the statement accused the Egyptian government of being the first side which agreed to train cadres of police and army supporting "the crusaders."

The statement threatened to kill and fight every and each one who cooperates with the "Jews and Christians, who stand in their lines, and proceed in their plans." In a video tape the organization offered after its statement, Sharif was shown wearing a white shirt and blindfolded.

Worthy mentioning that Egypt is the first Arab state which appointed an ambassador in Iraq since its invasion in 2003 and the toppling of the former regime of Saddam Hussein. Jordan, however, announced its determination to delegate an ambassador but no time was set for that.

In Cairo, the assistant secretary general for the Arab League, Ahmad Bin Hali, announced that the AL will not retreat from dispatching a mission to Iraq and that it will dispatch a delegate there despite the very difficult security conditions. He also stressed that the Arab League will continue its efforts in support of Iraq regardless to difficulties.

In the first reaction from the interim Iraqi government, the minister of the interior Bayan Jaber Soulag asked diplomats accredited in Baghdad to notify his ministry of their moves in order to "ensure necessary protection for them." Worthy mentioning that the interim Iraqi president Jalal al-Talibani disclosed on Thursday that he and his assistant took "new steps" to protect foreign ambassadors and embassies especially in al-Mansour area. He added that "the ambassador used to reject to be escorted by the Iraqi police. Therefore we will work to protect them now." The New York Times in a report today said "Iraqi Interior Minister Bayan Jabr said some Arab diplomats in Iraq were in contact with insurgents. He did not identify those diplomats, saying only that al-Sherif went out the night of his abduction to an insecure area without bodyguards. 'So, he takes responsibility for what happened,' said the minister, a hardline Shiite Muslim from the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, the country's largest Shiite party and the senior partner in al-Jaafari's ruling coalition. The minister spoke on al-Jazeera television Wednesday, a day before al-Qaida in Iraq announced the Egyptian's death."

Later development showed that Egypt is closing temporarily its embassy in Iraq. An Egyptian official said that orders were given to the Egyptian diplomatic team ( six diplomats and 6 employees) to leave Baghdad today, Friday.

Head of the Iraqi diplomatic mission in Cairo Saeed Muhammad rida said that he had received on late Thursday evening a telephone call from the Egyptian foreign minister Ahmad Abul Gheit notifying him that the Egyptian mission will be closed temporarily in Baghdad and that its teams was summoned. He added that the ministry asked for extra security reinforcement for the Egyptian diplomats while leaving Iraq, adding "we are very sorry for this decision." The Egyptian ambassador to the UN, Majid Abdul Aziz, asked the UN Security Council on Thursday to "urgently" discuss the killing of al-Sharif. Abdul Aziz said "I have already met with the President of the UN Security Council and asked the council to address this issue very quickly in a way that preserves the life of diplomats not only Egyptians but from other countries." He added that he expects the council will meet at his request very urgently but no date was set for that.

Egypt foreign ministry said "The Ministry affirmed that Egypt will not be thwarted by an attack on one of her sons from continuing to assist the Iraqi people in restoring peace, stability and unity to their country which is a prerequisite for stability in the region."

Previous Stories:
  Zarqawi group reportedly killed Egyptian ambassador in Iraq   (7/7/2005)
  On the kidnapping of the top Egyptian official envoy in Iraq   (7/5/2005)
  Mubarak, Allawi discuss regional developments   (6/28/2005)

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