Baghdad, Mar 15: Iraq is to recall its ambassador from Bucharest, the Iraqi foreign ministry said today, claiming that Romanian intelligence had tried to bribe him. In a statement, it said the envoy, Saad Majid, was summoned to the Romanian foreign ministry on March 10 where an intelligence official suggested that he "betray his country." The latest move came five days after Romania, a strong supporter of the US stance towards Iraq, said it had expelled five Iraqi diplomats for activities incompatible with their diplomatic status -- a euphemism for spying.
Majid was not among those asked to leave. Following the alleged March 10 incident, Iraqi foreign minister Naji Sabri "wrote a letter of protest to his Romanian counterpart in which he demanded an explanation for this ignoble behaviour," the statement went on.
"The foreign minister has also decided to recall its ambassador to protest at this behaviour."
Romanian foreign minister Mircea Geoana said last Monday that the decision to expel the Iraqi diplomats came after "information that had been supplied over the past few days by Romanian secret services was confirmed."
Bureau Report