Posted on 04/15/2004 12:25:39 PM PDT by TexKat
Iraqi police stand next to the wreckage of an Iranian diplomatic vehicle in which an Iranian diplomat was shot and killed close to the Iranian mission in Baghdad, April 15, 2004. Iran's state television identified the dead man as the first secretary of Iran's embassy, Khalil Naimi. Photo by Akram Saleh/Reuters
A security guard of the Iranian embassy stands near the bullet riddled car of Khalil Naimi, an Iranian diplomat who was gunned down in Baghdad by unknown assailants.(AFP/Karim Sahib)
(I love the blanket)
People load into an ambulance the dead body of Khalil Naimi, an Iranian diplomat who was gunned down in Baghdad by unknown assailants.(AFP/Antonio Scorza)
Iraqi police investgate the scene where Khalil Naimi, the first secretary of the Iranian Embassy, lays dead in his car near the Iranian ambassy in Baghdad, Iraq (news - web sites), Thursday, April 15, 2004. Gunmen killed a high-ranking Iranian diplomat in Baghdad Thursday, but it was unclear whether the killing was linked to Iranian efforts to mediate between U.S. forces and a radical Shiite cleric. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
Khalil Naimi, the first secretary of the Iranian Embassy, lays dead in his car near the Iranian ambassy in Baghdad, Iraq (news - web sites), THursday April 15 2004. Gunmen killed a high-ranking Iranian diplomat in Baghdad Thursday, but it was unclear whether the killing was linked to Iranian efforts to mediate between U.S. forces and a radical Shiite cleric. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
(someone had a camera handy)
Khalil Naimi, the first secretary of the Iranian Embassy, lays dead in his car near the Iranian ambassy in Baghdad, Iraq (news - web sites), Thursday April 15, 2004. Gunmen killed a high-ranking Iranian diplomat in Baghdad Thursday, but it was unclear whether the killing was linked to Iranian efforts to mediate between U.S. forces and a radical Shiite cleric. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
Peacock as in Peacock Throne?
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States said it would not be appropriate for Iran to attempt to mediate an end to the standoff between the US-led coalition in Iraq and militant Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
The State Department said Washington would be pleased if a delegation from Tehran now in Baghdad used its influence with the Shia community to promote the authority of the Iraqi interim administration, but that it should not seek a greater role, particularly in the holy city of Najaf where Sadr is holed up.
"Our view -- and this has been communicated to the Iranians as well -- is that it's not appropriate for them to try to mediate in some way," spokesman Richard Boucher said.
"It is appropriate for them to try to work with the authorities in Baghdad, to try to work with the Iraqis who are in leadership roles ... and bring whatever influence to bear that they can that would help stabilize the situation peacefully and allow the extension of governmental authority," he said.
Boucher said that a representative of the US occupation authority sat in on a meeting between the Iranian delegation and British officials and delivered Washington's message.
Earlier Thursday in Iraq, coalition officials had also sought to play down Iran's role in the Sadr situation.
Washington has sent thousands of armored infantry to the region around Najaf, where Sadr took refuge after militia loyal to him launched an insurgency more than 10 days ago.
Sadr unleashed his militiamen at the beginning of April, seizing control of towns in central and southern Iraq after one of his associates was arrested and one of his newspapers was shut down for allegedly inciting anti-US violence.
The move came after a warrant was issued for his arrest in connection with the murder of a rival cleric last year.
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