Ambassador urges GSL to expel post-Saddam

S E C R E T COLOMBO 000640

SIPDIS

NOFORN

DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, S/CT, NEA, NEA/NGA,
DS/DSS/ITA; NSC FOR E. MILLARD

NEW DELHI FOR POL/REGIONAL AFFAIRS

LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04-11-13
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS PTER ASEC CE IZ
SUBJECT: Ambassador urges GSL to expel post-Saddam
official Iraqis and protect diplomatic property

Refs: (A) State 93783

- (B) State 92281
- (C) Colombo 623 (All Notal)

(U) Classified by Ambassador E. Ashley Wills.
Reasons 1.5 (B,D).


1. (S/NF) The Ambassador spoke to Sri Lankan Foreign
Secretary Nihal Rodrigo on April 11, and reviewed Ref B

SIPDIS
points re expulsion of post-Saddam official Iraqis and
suspending the operations of its embassy. Rodrigo
replied that the situation was very "confusing" and that
the GSL was "polling" the views of other South Asian
countries. He said that as far as the government was
aware there were only two Iraqi officials left in the
country: Charge Wajdi Mardan Abbas and one other
person. (Note: See Ref C regarding a recent
communication by Abbas, a known Iraqi intelligence
operative, to the U.S. Embassy.) Two other officials
had recently left the country. As if he was feeling
sorry for the Iraqis, Rodrigo commented that Abbas was
here "with his wife and two children" and the other
Iraqi official seemed to be a courier.


2. (S/NF) Ambassador also reviewed Ref A points re
protecting Iraqi diplomatic property with Rodrigo.


3. (S/NF) COMMENT: Rodrigo said the GSL would review
the issues that the Ambassador raised and get back to us
shortly. The Ambassador was left with the strong
impression that the government did not plan to expel
Abbas, however. END COMMENT.


4. (U) Minimize considered.

WILLS