Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Iraq's U.N. Envoy Disavows Regime Ties
AP | 4/10/03 | JOJI SAKURAI

Posted on 04/10/2003 2:50:11 AM PDT by kattracks

Iraq's U.N. Envoy Disavows Regime Ties

By JOJI SAKURAI .c The Associated Press

After weeks of swaggering rhetoric, Iraq's U.N. ambassador has made an abrupt about-face, claiming he has ``no relationship'' with Saddam Hussein and ``no communication'' with the regime.

How did Mohammed Al-Douri know the game was up?

``I watch the television just like you,'' he told reporters Wednesday outside his New York City residence - before reportedly fleeing to Paris.

From Brasilia to Bangkok, Iraqi diplomats were abandoning ship, apparently fearful they would be implicated in the evils of Saddam's dying regime.

In Tokyo, Iraqi diplomats hauled garbage bags stuffed with shredded documents out of the embassy. Neighbors whispered that the amount of trash was three times the usual level.

After televised images showed Saddam's statue come tumbling down in Baghdad, Iraqi diplomats in Brazil carried box after box of papers out of their embassy - and set them on fire.

In Thailand, diplomats were hedging bets - resigned to going home if expelled but willing to stick around if a new Iraqi regime wants to hire them.

``There is no clear picture. The collapse happened so quickly,'' embassy first secretary Talal Waleed Waleed said, repeatedly referring to Saddam's regime as ``the former government.''

Waleed said events back home were taking their toll on his family.

``My wife is crying nonstop,'' he said.

In New York, al-Douri - the man who recently mocked the coalition for expecting to be welcomed in Iraq by ``hugs'' and ``flowers'' - said with a shrug: ``The game is over.''

``My work now is peace,'' Al-Douri said. ``I hope the peace will prevail. I hope the Iraqi people will have a happy life.''

Officials in Iraq's embassy in Brazil initially denied police reports that documents were being destroyed.

``It's all lies,'' said Abdu Saif, secretary to Iraqi Ambassador Jarallah Alobaidy. ``We are only burning garbage and recently cut grass.''

But a second call, answered by an unidentified employee, produced the message ``I'm not working now'' and a quick hang-up.

In Sweden, a spokesman for the Iraqi embassy appeared unsure whether their operation would remain open - and if it did, who might be giving the orders.

``We don't know anything,'' spokesman Jamal Abdulrazak told The Associated Press. ``All we know is what we see on television. We are just officials. We have not received orders from the ex-government or a new government.''

Abdulrazak was one of three Iraqi diplomats left in Sweden; last month, Swedish officials banished two others for allegedly spying on Iraqi exiles. The embassy in Stockholm is Iraq's only diplomatic outpost in the Nordic and Baltic countries.

``If they want us to stay, we stay,'' Abdulrazak said. ``If they want us to go home, we go home. We are Iraqi. We do our job.''

Confusion reigned in Iraq's embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan. Ambassador Kazim Abdul Hameed al-Ravi had not shown up for work by midday and the embassy visa section appeared closed.

In Moscow, reporters tried unsuccessfully to contact Iraq's ambassador about a report that Saddam had taken refuge at the Russian Embassy in Baghdad. It was left to Russia's foreign minister to deny the report.

04/10/03 05:38 EDT


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 04/10/2003 2:50:11 AM PDT by kattracks
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: kattracks
I guess they are out of work now.
2 posted on 04/10/2003 3:18:22 AM PDT by Tokhtamish
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All


Donate Here By Secure Server

Or mail checks to
FreeRepublic , LLC
PO BOX 9771
FRESNO, CA 93794

or you can use

PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com

STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER


3 posted on 04/10/2003 3:19:48 AM PDT by Support Free Republic (Your support keeps Free Republic going strong!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kattracks
Expel them, escort them back to Iraq, and hold them there in detention to await disposal by the new government.

They are spies, terrorist supporters and Baath Party muckety-mucks.
4 posted on 04/10/2003 3:19:57 AM PDT by EternalVigilance
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kattracks
Unemployed Iraqi diplomat.
5 posted on 04/10/2003 3:20:24 AM PDT by goldstategop (Lara Logan Doesn't Hold A Candle Next To BellyGirl :))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kattracks
CYA 101?????

METHINKS HE WILL NEED MORE THAN THAT.

6 posted on 04/10/2003 3:35:41 AM PDT by jos65
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kattracks
This guy is trying to "out-funny" Baghdad Bob and is doing a good job.
7 posted on 04/10/2003 3:37:58 AM PDT by AmericaUnited
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kattracks
Maybe Tarik Aziz can get a job as a waiter in a Middle Eastern restaurant.
8 posted on 04/10/2003 3:39:12 AM PDT by The_Media_never_lie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kattracks
Disavows regime ties?

Oh... He won the job in a raffle.
9 posted on 04/10/2003 3:50:52 AM PDT by Pete'sWife (Dirt is for racing... asphalt is for getting there.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson