- News>
- World
Egypt, Lebanon, Iran refuse to expel Iraqi diplomats
Cairo, Mar 23: Washington`s demand to states worldwide to expel Iraq`s diplomats is `not under consideration`, Egyptian foreign minister Ahmed Maher has said.
Cairo, Mar 23: Washington's demand to states worldwide to expel Iraq's diplomats is "not under consideration", Egyptian foreign minister Ahmed Maher has said.
"That's absolutely not under consideration," he told reporters yesterday.
Washington said on Thursday that it was asking governments worldwide to sever ties with the regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, shut down Iraq's embassies and freeze its assets until new authorities were in power in Baghdad.
In Beirut press reports said that Lebanon had also refused to kick out the six Iraqi diplomats posted in the country or to freeze iraqi asset in lebanese banks reportedly amounting to some $ 1 billion.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Haid-reza Asefi, quoted by the official IRNA news agency, said iran had an independent policy and would not take any decision to expel Iraqi diplomats or close Baghdad's embassy.
Washington said on Thursday that it was asking governments worldwide to sever ties with the regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, shut down Iraq's embassies and freeze its assets until new authorities were in power in Baghdad.
In Beirut press reports said that Lebanon had also refused to kick out the six Iraqi diplomats posted in the country or to freeze iraqi asset in lebanese banks reportedly amounting to some $ 1 billion.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Haid-reza Asefi, quoted by the official IRNA news agency, said iran had an independent policy and would not take any decision to expel Iraqi diplomats or close Baghdad's embassy.
Bureau Report