Iraq Denounces Embassy Takeover by Dissidents as 'Terrorist Attacks'

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, August 21, 2002

Iraq Denounces Embassy Takeover by Dissidents as 'Terrorist Attacks'

Iraq denounced on Tuesday the occupation of its embassy in Berlin by a group of Iraqi dissidents as the German police stormed into the embassy to bring the drama to an end.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Iraq denounced on Tuesday the occupation of its embassy in Berlin by a group of Iraqi dissidents as the German police stormed into the embassy to bring the drama to an end.

"Armed terrorists supported by the United States and Zionist intelligence services attacked our embassy in Berlin on Tuesday, wounding one employee and detaining the rest of the staff," a spokesman of the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, quoted by the official Iraqi News Agency.

The German police detained five dissidents, who had earlier occupied the embassy and taken some embassy staff as hostages.

At least three embassy staff members were slightly wounded, including Iraqi Charge d'Affaires Shamir Mohammed, who was the highest official in the embassy.

Since 1991, Iraq and Germany have not sent ambassadors to each other's capitals.

A group named "Democratic Iraqi Opposition in Germany" has claimed the responsibility for the takeover action.

In a letter to the press, the group said that "we take over the embassy, which is the first step in the direction of liberation of our beloved fatherland."

But according to Iraqi opposition leaders exiling in Germany, the group is a "desperate split organization."

The German police reportedly stormed the Iraqi embassy only after Berlin got the green light from Baghdad.

Questions?Comments? Click here

German Police Bring Iraqi Embassy Takeover to End

Anti-Saddam Group Occupies Iraqi Embassy in Berlin

China's Exports Hit Record of US$56.2 Billion in July ( 36 Messages)

China's On-going Reform Calls for Better Economic Illumination ( 31 Messages)

Fourth Unmanned Spaceship Set to Roar by Yearend ( 46 Messages)

FM Spokesman Rejects Al-Qaida Contacts Allegation ( 48 Messages)

Commentary: Taiwan Independence No Easy Thing ( 57 Messages)