M A I N   N E W S

Jordan, Italy expel Iraqi diplomats

Amman (Jordan), March 23
Jordan has expelled five Iraqi diplomats after Washington asked more than 60 countries to shut down Iraqi diplomatic missions and dismiss their diplomats, an Iraqi Embassy official said today.

Press attache Jawad al-Ali said the Jordanian request, made through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was received by Iraqi officials yesterday. He said all five diplomats, including commercial attache Ali Jumah, returned home earlier today.

ROME: Italy expelled four Iraqi diplomats on Sunday, the Italian news agency ANSA reported, citing foreign ministry sources in Rome.

The four unidentified diplomats were asked to leave as soon as possible and had already left the country, the news agency said, citing the sources.

CAIRO: Washington’s demand to states worldwide to expel Iraq’s diplomats is “not under consideration”, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher has said.

In Beirut, press reports said Lebanon had also refused to kick out the six Iraqi diplomats posted in the country or to freeze Iraqi assets in Lebanese banks reportedly amounting to some $ 1 billion. AP, AFP