Iraqi delegation to Cairo to contain crisis

The Iraqi authorities yesterday tried to contain the escalation in the crisis with Egypt, as a result of Iraqi statements after the killing of Egypt's top diplomat in Baghdad, and announced that an Iraqi delegation will shortly visit Cairo, stressing that Iraq will not permit the assassination of head of the Egyptian diplomatic mission in Baghdad Eyhab al-Sharif to affect relations between the two states.

In a press conference in Baghdad, the Iraqi foreign minister Hoshiar Zeibari said "we will dispatch as soon as possible a delegation from the foreign ministry to contact with the Egyptian foreign ministry and government." He added "I am contacting the Egyptian foreign ministry and I am confident that this incident will not affect historical relations between the two countries," noting that "the Egyptian diplomatic mission will continue its work and the Egyptian flag will continue to be hoisted over the building of the embassy and we do not think that Egypt will cut its relations with Iraq."

Zeibari had denied that Sharif made contacts with the armed groups in Iraq, which another another top Iraqi official had accused Sharif of doing, and caused the Egyptian reaction. He said "I do not think that the late martyr made any irresponsible contacts in Baghdad," stressing "Egypt is the elder sister for Iraq. It is the largest Arab country and we expect we will be together in issues of destiny."

Zeibari announced that he had proposed to the ambassadors and heads of foreign diplomatic missions working in Iraq during a meeting held on Monday and attended by the minister of the interior Bayan Jaber, to ensure diplomatic protection for its ambassadors to avoid repeating what had happened for Sharif. Zeibari added "we have notified them that the Iraqi government is able to ensure protection for all embassies and diplomats working in Iraq, without relying on any other side."