http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=66630&d=8&m=7&y=2005
Friday, 8, July, 2005 (01, Jumada al-Thani, 1426)
Al-Qaeda Murders Egyptian Envoy
Summer Said, Arab News
Ihab Al-Sherif
CAIRO, 8 July 2005 - A videotape attributed to
Al-Qaeda's leader in Iraq, Abu Mussab Al-Zarqawi, said yesterday his group has
killed the Egyptian envoy to Iraq.
"We Al-Qaeda in Iraq announce that the judgment of God
has been implemented against the ambassador of Egypt. Oh enemy of God, Ihab
Al-Sherif, this is your punishment in this life," said the group in an Internet
statement posted on a website.
The group posted a video showing the hostage speaking
but not the actual killing.
The Egyptian government confirmed the murder of the
envoy, abducted near his house in Baghdad last Saturday. "The Egyptian Foreign
Ministry... has received with deep pain and sadness the news of the martyrdom
of Ambassador Dr. Ihab Al-Sherif," a Foreign Ministry statement said.
"The presidency expressed its regret at the passing
of.... Ihab Al-Sherif ... who lost his life at the hands of terrorism which
trades in Islam," added a statement from the president's office.
The Foreign Ministry said the killing would not deter
Egypt from its commitment to the people of Iraq.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fad sent a
message of condolence to President Hosni Mubarak describing the murdered envoy
as a martyr. "While condemning this criminal act, we convey our condolences to
Your Excellency and to the family of the martyr. We pray to the Almighty Allah
to have mercy on his soul and eradicate those spreading corruption," the king
said.
Crown Prince Abdullah and Prince Sultan, second deputy
premier and minister of defense and aviation, sent similar messages to
President Mubarak.
The 51-year-old diplomat, was appointed to the post on
June 1 and was the first Arab ambassador to post-Saddam Iraq. Sherif, father of
two daughters, is a well-known politician in Egypt and was the first aide to
the Egyptian ambassador in Tel Aviv from 1999 to 2003 and later was the acting
head of mission following the withdrawal of the ambassador after the 2000
Palestinian intifada.
"He is a good man and never had any relation with the
US forces in Iraq and was happy to be appointed the new ambassador because he
wanted to have a dialogue with the Iraqis," Sherif's brother-in-law told the
state-owned Channel Two.
Sherif's daughter Ingy told Arab News that she and her
family were in shock. "If it is true that my father is dead, it is a horrific
disaster and his kidnappers don't realize that they killed an innocent man and
a good Muslim who wanted nothing but help the Iraqis," said Ingy. "All I have
to say now is that God will punish them for their barbarous crime and for
killing an innocent soul," she added.
The opposition in Egypt blamed the United States for
the death of the diplomat. "The American administration is responsible for the
death of our ambassador," said prominent Islamist MP Muhammad Abdel Qoudous.
"This is a reaction to their brutal activities in Iraq," he added.
Sheikh Mohammed Sayed Tantawi of Al-Azhar, the highest
authority in Sunni Islam, has previously urged the kidnappers to release the
envoy.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
***************************************************************************
Berdikusi dg Santun & Elegan, dg Semangat Persahabatan. Menuju Indonesia yg
Lebih Baik, in Commonality & Shared Destiny. http://www.ppi-india.org
***************************************************************************
__________________________________________________________________________
Mohon Perhatian:
1. Harap tdk. memposting/reply yg menyinggung SARA (kecuali sbg otokritik)
2. Pesan yg akan direply harap dihapus, kecuali yg akan dikomentari.
3. Lihat arsip sebelumnya, http://dear.to/ppi
4. Satu email perhari: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
5. No-email/web only: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
6. kembali menerima email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ppiindia/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
