After the head of Egyptian mission assassinated in IraqYemen denies appointing ambassador to Iraq [Archives:2005/858/Front Page]

Reported by:
Yasser al-Mayasi
Yemen Times. Sana'a
Mohammad Khadir,
Yemen Times, Bagdad
July 9 (Yemen Times))A source in the Presidential office denied the reports attributed to the Foreign Minister, of the Yemeni intention to appoint an ambassador in Iraq. Governmental sources confirmed that no fixed time was appointed for this matter as some Arab and local media said.

The source didn't say whether the Minister Alqirbi's release was true or was it just attributed to him.

16 September journal, the army mouthpiece had confirmed two weeks ago, that foreign Minister Alqirbi announced steps to appoint a new Yemeni ambassador in Iraq. This was at the end of the conference of the OIC Foreign Ministers. The paper went on to say that he will be the first ambassador since the fall of the former regime. It also said that the appointment will be within few days.

Observers of Yemeni policy, think that the Yemeni delay for the appointment came after the murder of the Egyptian ambassador last week. Observers also believe that Yemen has promised the Iraqi Executives to appoint an ambassador. The last of these promises was in last month, when the Iraqi Foreign Minister visited Iraq to participate in the OIC conference.

Formal reports revealed that the most prominent nominee for that post was ambassador (Salah Alnashad), who worked in the Yemeni embassy in Washington. It worth saying that Baghdad had announced Dr.Tilal Jafar Al-abidy as its ambassador in Yemen. He visited Yemen and went back to Baghdad. He is expected to resume his work in Sana'a in October this year.

These statements have come after the killing of the head of the Egyptian diplomatic mission in Iraq, which was denounced by the Iraqi government on Friday. The assassination, along with its ramifications, had from then beginning been characterized by political agenda. And even after kidnapping, dealing with it was not having a diplomatic characteristic in the form that might spare him death. The statement issued by the al-Qaeda organization in Iraq was very clear in reporting that the organization was in possession of much information on the man who had served for many years in his country's diplomacy, the matter that motivated his killing, as al-Qaeda organization reported. The Statement had also held the Egyptian government responsible for facilitating the invasion of the “disbelievers troops” of the Arab lands. The al-Qaeda organization statement added that the ambassador had come with an obvious message, having nothing of interest for Muslims but rather to deepen and consolidate the occupation presence.

On the other hand and out of a political stand Egypt's ambassador to the United Nations demanded to refer the file of Egypt's ambassador killing to the UN Security Council as soon as possible to be discussed, ” we have today lost our ambassador to Iraq, who was murdered in a brutal way. I have met president of the Security Council and asked him that the council should discuss this problem urgently”

The Iraq side as it seems did not hold itself as responsible for consequences of kidnapping and killing of the Egyptian ambassador despite the strong statement of condemnation announced by the Iraqi Interior minister Bayan Jabr. ” The embassies are under protection of the interior ministry and there is a special department shouldering the responsibility of securing protection of embassies. Any embassy is protected practically. When an ambassador, under these atmospheres, moves from one place to another, we do not have the right to follow up an ambassador's movements because such an act would be considered as violation of the diplomatic norms.”

On his part the secretary general of the Arab League expressed regret to the result of the Egyptian ambassador issue, and expressing his astonishment of the meanings of the al-Qaeda organization statement contained. The strange thing is the mixing between religions. Politics and the person. The matter has become not understandable. What is the charge that was against Ihab al-Sharif?” But religious trends in Egypt, such as the Muslim Brotherhood consider the American administration, by occupation of Iraq and spread of chaos and killing, we are responsible for the killing of Ihab al-Sharif. But variance in reactions may not change anything of reality; neither humane calls saved Ihab al-Sharif from his inevitable destiny or the condemnation would stop those who have put on their agenda fighting the states that they deem as offering support to the occupier.

The Imam and preacher of Um al-Qura mosque Abdul Ghafour al-Samarraie said targeting diplomats in Iraq does not serve the interest of the people of Iraq, adding that there are covert elements working for driving the Iraqis in the quagmire of sectarianism. Sheikh al-Samarraie said, “We have to join forces and we don't accept targeting any diplomat and the targeting of diplomats is an act does not serve our issue or falls in our interest and it is a rejected act. We reject killing this ambassador, which is an act of enrages God and does not pour into the Iraqis interest. Therefore, we call to unify our ranks and join our forces and to stand up to anyone who wants to split our ranks and provoke sectarian seditions, and we have to work for the liberation of our country from occupation.”

Some observers said al-Qaeda affiliates believe that the Egyptian government is unbeliever and anyone working for it, even there lowest in rank employee, as unbeliever ands since that government had sent al-Sharif to Iraq as ambassador it consequently means a recognition of the Iraqi government and anyone recognizing the Iraqi government does consequently recognize the American occupation of Iraq. They have their own legal interpretations, believing such things as supporting the occupation and thus it is allowable to fight them. These observers believe that the al-Qaeda organization, unlike other similar ones, does not respond to calls, negotiations and mediations. As long as the al-Qaeda organization is the side that committed kidnapping, it is certain that the kidnapped would be liquidated except if there was a chance for the security forces to find the place where the victim was kept, there might be a chance to rescue him. There is no previous example that al-Qaeda organization had before released anyone kidnapped by it, unlike other similar organizations.

Heads of the Egyptian diplomatic mission in Baghdad was kidnapped outside his residence a few days ago and then al-Qaeda organization in Iraq announced its responsibility. The organization broadcast statements and information about the Egyptian diplomat and promised to kill him, and actually it did that.
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