Iraq's prime minister promised Sunday to increase security at diplomatic missions and praised Egypt's "brave and courageous move" to boost relations with his government during a press conference. Egypt's diplomat Ihab al-Sherif was seized July 2 by up to eight gunmen on a Baghdad street. Five days later, al-Qaida in Iraq claimed in a Web posting that it had killed the envoy and would "punish" Arab and Muslim states that recognize the U.S.-backed Iraqi government. The Associated Press quoted Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari as saying he does not believe the killing will make countries refrain from sending diplomatic missions to Iraq, adding that "Jordan, for example, is intent to send a mission." Al-Jaafari, who called for an investigation into al-Sherif's killing, promised to improve security around diplomatic missions. He called ambassadors "to coordinate with the Interior Ministry when they go out so they can be protected in a better way." "We confirm from our side to guarantee enough protection," he added. During the press conference, al-Jaafari said the attack on al-Sherif was an attempt "to assassinate Iraqi-Egyptian relations" and undermine Baghdad's ties throughout the Arab and Muslim world.
