IRAQ: DEATH PENALTY FOR EX-EGYPTIAN AMBASSADOR’S KIDNAPPERS

Iraqi court sentenced to death the two kidnappers of the ex-Egyptian ambassador Ihab al-Shareef in Baghdad.
Al-Shareef was kidnapped in July, 2005 after two days of his arrival to the Iraqi capital, Baghdad to implement an Iraqi-Egyptian agreement to restore diplomatic relations.
Both countries severed relations in 1991 with the eruption of the Gulf War to liberate Kuwait.
After two days of his kidnap operation, Egypt formally announced his assassination by the Iraqi branch of Qaeda Organization, headed by the Jordanian Mus’ab al-Zarqawi.
Following the assassination, Egypt suspended diplomatic relations with Iraq till appointing a new ambassador in 2010.