Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05AMMAN9791
2005-12-20 14:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:
GOJ REQUESTS USG HELP IN FREEING KIDNAPPED EMBASSY
how-toVZCZCXRO1309 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHAM #9791 3541440 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 201440Z DEC 05 FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7074 INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD IMMEDIATE 2137 RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 009791
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
BAGHDAD FOR HOSTAGE WORKING GROUP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER IZ JO
SUBJECT: GOJ REQUESTS USG HELP IN FREEING KIDNAPPED EMBASSY
STAFFER
Classified By: CDA Daniel Rubinstein for reasons 1.4 (b and d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 009791
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
BAGHDAD FOR HOSTAGE WORKING GROUP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER IZ JO
SUBJECT: GOJ REQUESTS USG HELP IN FREEING KIDNAPPED EMBASSY
STAFFER
Classified By: CDA Daniel Rubinstein for reasons 1.4 (b and d)
1. (C) Dimai Haddad, head of the Foreign Minister's private
office, convoked Polcouns on December 20 to formally request
USG assistance in the case of Mahmoud Suleiman Musa Al
Sa'edat. Sa'edat, a 58-year old Jordanian citizen accredited
to the GOI as an administrative/technical staffer, is the
driver for the Jordanian Charge in Baghdad. According to
Haddad, the Iraqi Interior Ministry informed the GOJ that
18-20 armed men in several vehicles blocked Sa'edat's POV and
abducted him at about 8:00 AM not far from his home in the
Baya district of Baghdad. Haddad said Sa'edat's wife, who
was present and not harmed, had confirmed this account to the
Jordanian EMBASSY in Baghdad. Haddad reported that the Iraqi
authorities deployed security forces and established
checkpoints in the Baya district in response to the
kidnapping. Haddad said the Jordanian Foreign Ministry had
made urgent requests for assistance to the Iraqi government
in Baghdad and Amman. The GOJ has received no claims of
responsibility. International media are reporting the
kidnapping.
2. (C) Haddad, the former Jordanian Charge in Baghdad,
speculated that one of three scenarios will play out. The
kidnappers were either:
--associated with Zarqawi and "planning to send Jordan a
message,"
--seeking to exchange Sa'edat for Saijida Mubarak Atrous Al
Rishawi, the would-be suicide bomber being held by the GOJ
since shortly after the November 9 Amman hotel attacks, or
--ransom-seekers.
3. (C) Haddad and Jordan's Ambassador-designate to Iraq, Gen.
Ahmad Al Lowzi, were concerned not only for Sa'edat's safety
but also over the likelihood that kidnappers could extract
from Sa'edat information that would endanger other Jordanian
government personnel in Baghdad.
RUBINSTEIN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
BAGHDAD FOR HOSTAGE WORKING GROUP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER IZ JO
SUBJECT: GOJ REQUESTS USG HELP IN FREEING KIDNAPPED EMBASSY
STAFFER
Classified By: CDA Daniel Rubinstein for reasons 1.4 (b and d)
1. (C) Dimai Haddad, head of the Foreign Minister's private
office, convoked Polcouns on December 20 to formally request
USG assistance in the case of Mahmoud Suleiman Musa Al
Sa'edat. Sa'edat, a 58-year old Jordanian citizen accredited
to the GOI as an administrative/technical staffer, is the
driver for the Jordanian Charge in Baghdad. According to
Haddad, the Iraqi Interior Ministry informed the GOJ that
18-20 armed men in several vehicles blocked Sa'edat's POV and
abducted him at about 8:00 AM not far from his home in the
Baya district of Baghdad. Haddad said Sa'edat's wife, who
was present and not harmed, had confirmed this account to the
Jordanian EMBASSY in Baghdad. Haddad reported that the Iraqi
authorities deployed security forces and established
checkpoints in the Baya district in response to the
kidnapping. Haddad said the Jordanian Foreign Ministry had
made urgent requests for assistance to the Iraqi government
in Baghdad and Amman. The GOJ has received no claims of
responsibility. International media are reporting the
kidnapping.
2. (C) Haddad, the former Jordanian Charge in Baghdad,
speculated that one of three scenarios will play out. The
kidnappers were either:
--associated with Zarqawi and "planning to send Jordan a
message,"
--seeking to exchange Sa'edat for Saijida Mubarak Atrous Al
Rishawi, the would-be suicide bomber being held by the GOJ
since shortly after the November 9 Amman hotel attacks, or
--ransom-seekers.
3. (C) Haddad and Jordan's Ambassador-designate to Iraq, Gen.
Ahmad Al Lowzi, were concerned not only for Sa'edat's safety
but also over the likelihood that kidnappers could extract
from Sa'edat information that would endanger other Jordanian
government personnel in Baghdad.
RUBINSTEIN