Egypt urges envoy's release

2005-07-04 08:44

Cairo - Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit called for the speedy release of his country's kidnapped ambassador designate to Iraq, in comments published late on Sunday.

"Ambassador Ihab al-Sharif always worked to serve the Iraqi people and promote good Egyptian-Iraqi relations ... we hope he is released shortly, God willing, so he can continue his good and dedicated work," Abul Gheit told reporters on the sidelines of an African summit in Libya.

"We expect him to be well treated for the Iraqi people are true Muslims."

The Egyptian minister also said that Sharif's kidnapping had not been "claimed by any party in Iraq" and no information on his whereabouts had been released.

Round the clock

He said Egyptian authorities were in touch round the clock with the Iraqi government which had "promised to exert their utmost efforts to help return ambassador Ihab al-Sharif to his place of work and to his family".

Sharif, 51, was kidnapped as he was walking in the street in Baghdad on Saturday, Egyptian and Iraqi officials said.

He had been named the first Arab ambassador to post-Saddam Hussein Iraq on June 1 but had yet to formally present his credentials.

Insurgents briefly held another Egyptian diplomat in July 2004 and also kidnapped an Iranian envoy, but both were later released unharmed.

Sharif's Iraqi counterpart in Cairo, Saad Mohammed Radhi, condemned the abduction, blaming "terrorists who don't have any religion, faith or purpose".

- AFP