Beijing, Apr 13: China today said that its embassy in Baghdad was attacked by looters and demanded the United States help in protecting the building and replacing stolen items, the official Xinhua news agency reported. China's ambassador to Iraq, Zhang Weiqiu, who withdrew with the rest of the embassy staff to Jordan before US forces arrived, expressed shock over the attack, Xinhua said.

"Chaos that has descended on Baghdad since Iraqi resistance ended on Wednesday was regrettable and peace and order must be restored," Zhang was quoted saying.

A separate Xinhua report quoted foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao as citing articles of international law that mandate parties at war are responsible for securing property and personnel of foreign missions.

China has asked for talks with the United States to ask for "effective measures to prevent any further infringement upon the Chinese embassy in Iraq and replace the stolen articles," it said.
"China deeply regrets the anarchy in postwar Iraq and strongly condemns the robbery," Xinhua said, quoting foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao.

Xinhua said that one of its reporters in Baghdad visited the embassy early yesterday and saw 20 armed men in the inner courtyard removing refrigerators, computers and air conditioners. Eleven embassy vehicles parked inside had also vanished.


Bureau Report