(S) STATUS OF REQUESTS ON FORMER IRAQI REGIME

S E C R E T SANAA 000054

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/09/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER YM COUNTER TERRORISM TERFIN
SUBJECT: (S) STATUS OF REQUESTS ON FORMER IRAQI REGIME
ELEMENT UMAR SABAWI

REF: A. 05 STATE 174132

B. 05 SANAA 2791

C. 05 SANAA 2803

D. 05 SANAA 3046

E. 05 STATE 221825

F. 05 SANAA 3442

Classified By: AMBASSADOR THOMAS C. KRAJESKI, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (
D).


1. (S) During a January 2 office call, Ambassador asked
FonMin Abubakr al-Qirbi for an update on USG requests to
detain and freeze the assets of Former Iraqi Regime Element
Umar Sabawi. Qirbi said he had no new information, and
believed that Sabawi was "no longer in Yemen." The FonMin
did not appear to have been informed of discussions about
Sabawi between DCM and Deputy Foreign Minister Mohideen
al-Dhabi, and between Ambassador and MinInt Rashad al-Alimi,
both of whom claimed Sabawi was in Yemen and that more
information would be shared on him with the Embassy "soon."
Thus far, no information has been passed, and the ROYG
appears disinterested in pursuing the Sabawi matter further.


2. (S) A summary of Embassy approaches to the ROYG
regarding Sabawi follows:

-- September 18, 2005: Ambassador informs FonMin of ref A
request to detain Sabawi in anticipation of an extradition
request from the Iraqi Interim Government (ref B).

-- September 21, 2005: Ambassador delivers same points to
the Deputy FonMin, who promises to pass along the information
to President Saleh (ref C).

-- October 17, 2005: Ambassador asks MinInt (ref D) if
there is any progress in fulfilling the detention request.
Alimi says he has "certain information" about Sabawi's
impending international travel plans, and has asked the MFA
to pass the Sabawi "file" to Embassy. (This did not occur.)

-- November 21, 2005: DCM presents substance of ref E
demarche to the Deputy FonMin, asking for the freezing of
Sabawi's assets.

-- December 10, 2005: DCM asks the Deputy FonMin for an
update. Al-Dhabi states that the ROYG has determined that
Sabawi has "about 10,000 dollars" in Yemen, but declines to
say if the government will freeze the money, and says "other
agencies" are working on preventing Sabawi from sending and
receiving funds. The Deputy FonMin adds that the Iraqi
embassy in Sanaa "has not even raised Sabawi" with the ROYG
(ref F).

-- January 2, 2006: Ambassador's meeting with FonMin Qirbi.
Krajeski