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