MOROCCAN EMBASSY IN AMMAN REQUESTS USG ASSISTANCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 008343 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2015 TAGS: PTER MOPS JO IZ MO SUBJECT: MOROCCAN EMBASSY IN AMMAN REQUESTS USG ASSISTANCE IN LOCATING MISSING DIPLOMATS IN IRAQ REF: 10/23 SATTERFIELD-RUBINSTEIN TELCON Classified By: CHARGE DANIEL RUBINSTEIN, REASONS: 1.4 (C) & (D) ¶1. (C) Moroccan Ambassador to Jordan Abdel Kader Zaoui phoned Charge October 23 to request USG assistance in obtaining information on, and if possible locating two Moroccan diplomats -- Abdel Rahim Bu'ilam and Abdel Karim Almuhafadhi -- who crossed the Jordan-Iraq border at approximately 11:30 AM local on Thursday, October 20 in a white Toyota Land Cruiser (Iraqi diplomatic license plate 17/7) and haven't been heard from since. ¶2. (C) The two were to make their monthly trip to Baghdad using the main highway from the border to Baghdad which traverses the Ramadi and Fallujah areas. Amb. Zaoui reports that Moroccan Charge in Baghdad Abdel Karim al-Sadiq fears the two may been kidnapped in the Ramadi area, but Zaoui stressed the GoM has received no information or ransom contact from any party regarding the two missing diplomats. Amb. Zaoui passed along the GoM's sincere thanks for whatever USG or Coalition help could be provided. RUBINSTEIN