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