U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan on Thursday condemned the execution of kidnapped Egyptian diplomat, Ihab al-Sherif, as a "callous act" that cannot be justified. Al-Sherif was kidnapped in Baghdad on Sunday and the Egyptian government confirmed his death, calling him a "martyr". Annan said he learned with great sadness the murder of the diplomat and condemned in the strongest terms "those who planned and executed this callous act, which no cause can justify". He called on Iraqi authorities to do their utmost to apprehend the kidnappers and bring them to justice. --SP 0013 Local Time 2113 GMT