Jordan Times
Friday, July 29, 2005
Jordan condemns killing of
Algerian diplomats
AMMAN (Agencies) — Jordan on Thursday expressed strong condemnation of the
assassination of two Algerian diplomats in Baghdad as a hideous crime.
Expressing sympathy to the Algerian people and the families of the victims, a
government statement carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, said the criminal
act contravenes all human values and principles and is denounced by Islam.
Also Thursday, the Kingdom's main opposition party, the Islamiic Action Front (IAF),
condemned the “unacceptable” murder of the two diplomats and urged the
government to freeze any plans to send an ambassador to Baghdad.
The execution of the diplomats is a “painful and unacceptable act, particularly
since Algeria has no links to British and American occupation crimes,” IAF
Secretary General Hamza Mansur told Agence France-Presse.
In a statement on the Internet on Wednesday, the group of Al Qaeda's Iraq
frontman, Abu Mussab Al Zarqawi, said it had executed the head of Algiers'
diplomatic mission in Baghdad, Ali Belaroussi, and Attach? Azzedine Belkadi.
The report came on the heels of the July 2 abduction and subsequent execution of
Egyptian mission head Ihab Al Sharif, 51. Zarqawi's group also claimed
responsibility for his killing.
Mansur blamed the US-led occupation of Iraq and the policies of the Iraqi
government for the violence prevailing in the country.
“Targeting civilians, media representatives, innocents and diplomats whose
governments did not participate in the aggression on Iraq is rejected,” he said.
He urged the government to refrain from sending an ambassador to Iraq under such
circumstances.
“The Jordanian government is urged to listen to the voice of reason and national
interests and not send an ambassador to Iraq and if it does send an ambassador
it will bear the responsibilities of its acts,” said Mansur.
The government repeatedly said this month it will raise its diplomatic
representation in Iraq and appoint an ambassador to the violence-ridden country
despite attacks on diplomats in Baghdad.
“The Jordanian government's policies are not dictated by armed groups but
according to our national interests, which call for an effective embassy in
Iraq,” Deputy Prime Minister Marwan Muasher said on July 13.
The local press said last week the government plans on sending a retired
major-general, Ahmad Lawzi, to Baghdad, although there has been no official
confirmation of the report.
The IAF, which has 17 MPs in Parliament, sent a memorandum to the government
following the report urging it to reconsider its decision.