BAHRAINI CHARGE WOUNDED IN BAGHDAD ASSASSINATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000940

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/I

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/05/2015
TAGS: PREL ASEC MARR PTER BA IZ
SUBJECT: BAHRAINI CHARGE WOUNDED IN BAGHDAD ASSASSINATION
ATTEMPT

REF: MANAMA 918

Classified by Pol/Econ Chief Steve Bondy for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).


1. (C) The press reports that Bahraini Charge in Baghdad
Hassan Al Ansari was wounded in a morning assassination
attempt in front of his residence July 5. The MFA confirmed
to the Embassy that Al Ansari had been hit in the shoulder or
arm but indicated that the wounds were not serious and he was
in stable condition. The MFA requested USG support for a
medevac from Baghdad to Manama when Al Ansari is declared fit
to travel. MFA Assistant Under Secretary Shaikh Abdul Aziz
bin Mubarak Al Khalifa was very appreciative of Embassy
Baghdad's quick action to have Al Ansari admitted to a U.S.
military hospital.


2. (C) The Ambassador updated Minister of State for Foreign
Affairs/Information Minister Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar on U.S.
actions. Abdul Ghaffar thanked the Ambassador for USG
support. He volunteered that the incident had interrupted
Bahrain's intention to have Al Ansari present his credentials
as ambassador to the Iraqi government.


3. (C) Comment: Foreign Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin
Mubarak Al Khalifa indicated during his meeting with the
Ambassador June 27 (reftel) that following the Brussels
conference on Iraq, Bahrain was prepared for Al Ansari to
present his credentials as ambassador. He commented that the
GOB had not instructed Al Ansari to do so earlier out of
concern that such a move would elevate Al Ansari's profile,
thus increasing the security risk. The kidnapping of the
Egyptian envoy and attack on Al Ansari will slow down any
move to raise Bahrain's representation in Baghdad to
ambassador.

MONROE