Iraq Asks Muslim Nations Not to Be Deterred by Envoy's Death

By JOHN F. BURNS
Published: July 8, 2005

BAGHDAD, Iraq, July 8 - Iraq's transitional government anxiously reached out to Arab and other Muslim countries today, urging them not to be intimidated by the killing of Egypt's top diplomat in Iraq by an Islamic militant group linked to Al Qaeda.

The appeal, in a Foreign Ministry statement, reflected concern that the slaying of the diplomat, Ihab al-Sharif, would derail attempts by the nascent Baghdad government to draw stronger diplomatic support, particularly from other Arab nations. Mr. Sharif, 51, who had been expected to become Egypt's ambassador here, was abducted and executed by the group Al Qaeda in Iraq, which vowed to mete out similar punishment to other diplomats assigned to Iraq by Muslim nations.

Egypt announced today that it was temporarily closing its embassy. Jordan has said that it will keep its commitment to reopen its mothballed mission and appoint an ambassador when security requirements are met. Pakistan, whose ambassador was withdrawn this week after he survived an assassination attempt unharmed, has said he will return once his safety can be assured. Bahrain has made a similar commitment with respect to its top diplomat here, who was wounded in the hand on the same day in another drive-by shooting."