Straw condemns Egyptian envoy killing
Jack Straw has strongly condemned the killing of the Egyptian envoy to Baghdad and urged Middle Eastern countries to continue supporting the transitional government in Iraq.
The foreign secretary said the killing of Ihab el Sherif, who was abducted last weekend as he was buying a newspaper, was a “most terrible and barbaric act”.
Terrorist group al-Qaida in Iraq posted brief footage of Dr El Sherif on a website yesterday showing the diplomat blindfolded and wearing a polo shirt. They said they would send footage of his death later on.
Mr El Sherif was taken hostage in an apparent reprisal for Egypt’s decision to become the first Arab state to appoint an ambassador to Iraq, Middle East defence analysts said.
However, Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak vowed to continue to support the fledgling democracy, saying: “This terrorist act will not deter Egypt from its firm position in support of Iraq and its people.”
And last night Mr Straw welcomed this stance, saying the backing of Egypt and other Middle East countries was crucial to Iraq’s progress.
“It is vital that the international community remains steadfast in its determination to confront those who perpetrate such acts of evil, and not allow ourselves to be deflected from our aims of bringing peace, stability and prosperity to Iraq and the wider Middle East region,” the foreign secretary said.
“We fully support Egypt’s initiatives, and those of other Middle East countries, to extend their ties with the Iraq transitional government.
“Such actions are crucial to the progress which Iraq is making. We very much hope that these constructive and forward looking policies will not change following this tragic and wholly unjustified killing.”
