CONDEMNATION OF THE AL-ASKARIYA SHRINE BOMBING

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000268 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/I, NEA/ARPI E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2016 TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV KPAO OPRC IZ MU SUBJECT: CONDEMNATION OF THE AL-ASKARIYA SHRINE BOMBING REF: SECSTATE 28802 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission William R. Stewart. Reason: 1.4 (b, d). (C) On February 23, Pol/Econ Chief contacted the Deputy Chief of the MFA Under Secretary's office Humaid al-Maani to relay reftel request for public condemnation of the February 22 Al-Askariya shrine bombing. Noting Oman's customary reluctance to issue formal statements, P/E Chief underscored the exceptionally heinous nature of the Al-Askariya bombing as deserving public condemnation. Despite the local weekend, al-Maani confirmed that high-level discussions within MFA had already taken place earlier in the day on a possible public statement. He undertook to convey the USG's request and said FM Yusuf bin Alawi would make the ultimate determination. News of the bombing, including U.S. and international denunciations, received broad coverage in the February 23 Omani press. BALTIMORE