Iranian diplomat killed in Iraq: Neighbours' intervention not needed - US
BAGHDAD, April 15: A senior Iranian diplomat was gunned down in Baghdad on Thursday - a day after Tehran sent a peace mission to help end a standoff between US forces and Iraqi Shia leader Moqtada Sadr.
A high-ranking foreign ministry official, who is heading the delegation, said the assassination was "most certainly" linked to his visit. He sought to play down his role in efforts to avert a major battle between the US military and Sadr's Mehdi Army militia, although it was unclear if the apparent change of position was a result of the killing.
An eyewitness said he had seen the body of first secretary Khalil Naimi lying in his bullet-riddled car on a Baghdad street after his murder. Two bullets had pierced the windshield and eight bullet holes were visible on the driver's door.
Iranian foreign ministry official Hossein Sadeghi, responsible for Gulf affairs, described the murder as "savage" and said there was a clear link between the assassination and his delegation's visit.
"Such savage moves are condemned and deplored by the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said. It was not immediately clear whether the assassination had had any direct impact on Mr Sadeghi's plans in Iraq, although the envoy ruled out holding any talks with Moqtada Sadr after earlier hinting that this might be possible.
"This visit definitely is not designed to mediate any standoff or any confrontation. The purpose of it is assessing the general situation in Iraq," he said. "The whole objective is to hear everybody's views at this stage."
The envoy's comments appeared to contradict those of Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi, who had said on Wednesday that the delegation was in Iraq to "help in improving the situation ... and solving the crisis".
Kamal Kharazi said the team had been sent at the request of the United States, although Washington insisted that the proposal was a British one that it had not opposed.
In Baghdad, officials of the Coalition Provisional Authority sought to play down Iran's role. "We are not involved in any discussions with the Iranians regarding Sadr," said spokesman Dan Senor. The crisis over Sadr "has to be solved by Iraqis, not Iranians."
The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen Richard Myers, went further on an unannounced visit to Baghdad, saying the last thing Iraq needed was "influence from neighbouring countries trying to promote or protect their own self-interest".
Washington has sent thousands of armoured infantry to the region around Najaf, where Moqtada Sadr took refuge following an uprising by his militia forces last week.
Sadr unleashed his militiamen at the beginning of the month, seizing control of towns in central and southern Iraq after one of his associates was arrested and one of his newspapers shut down for allegedly inciting anti-US violence.
His uprising also came after a warrant was issued for his arrest in connection with the murder of a rival last year. On the ground in Najaf, all was quiet on Thursday. Iraqi police were seen around the city's main streets, while Sadr's black-clad fighters milled around the mausoleum of Hazrat Ali, the city's holiest shrine.
Sadr said on Thursday he was prepared to meet the Iranian delegation in Najaf, but aides said the contents of any Iranian proposal remained unknown. Hazem al Araji, an aide, said although Sadr was open to mediation, he would not abandon his main demands - the release of detained supporters and guarantees that US troops would not enter the cities of Karbala, Najaf and Kufa.
"Sayyed Moqtada is prepared to do whatever Iraq's Shia leadership tell him to do as long as it is in the interest of Iraq and the Iraqi people," said Hazem Araji, who was himself briefly detained by US troops on Tuesday.
Another aide said on Wednesday that the radical was willing to disarm his Mehdi Army and appear before a court under a future "legitimate and democratic" Iraqi government. But Mr Araji sought to downplay those offers, raising doubts over the true position amid a barrage of statements and counter-statements.
What is clear is that Sadr has significantly toned down his rhetoric over the past week as US troops massed near Najaf with the stated mission of killing or capturing him. Only last Friday Sadr was calling on all Iraqis to join his uprising to drive the US-led forces out, warning of an uprising. -AFP
