AMBASSADOR DELIVERS DEMARCHE ON IRAQI FORMER

S E C R E T SANAA 002803 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2015 TAGS: PREL PTER YM IZ DEMARCHE COUNTER TERRORISM SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DELIVERS DEMARCHE ON IRAQI FORMER REGIME ELEMENT REF: A. STATE 174132 ¶B. SANAA 2791 Classified By: Ambassador Thomas C. Krajeski for reasons 1.4 b and d. ¶1. (S/NF) On September 21, Ambassador delivered ref A demarche requesting ROYG support for the detention and extradition of Umar Sabawi Ibrahim al-Tikriti during a meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister Mohiedeen Al-Dhabi. Dhabi accepted the letter and promised to immediately pass the information to President Saleh. Dhabi did not know if any formal extradition treaty existed, but would research the issue and report back immediately. He also promised to verify whether or not ROYG provides any stipend to Sabawi and/or his family. Ambassador complimented previous intelligence cooperation between American and Yemeni security agencies on Sabawi and hoped the coordination would continue to successfully extradite him to Iraq. ¶2. (S/NF) Comment: Ambassador initially informed MFA of the extradition request during a September 18 meeting with FM Abubakr Qirbi (ref B). Dhabi (who accepted the letter in place of Qirbi who is currently in Saudi Arabia) gave no indication of ROYG's position on the extradition, but did express disappointment Sabawi was not apprehended during a recent trip to Qatar. Post will continue to raise the issue at the highest levels and report back the official ROYG response once received. End Comment. Krajeski