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Saudi ambassador to Iraq expelled over 'assassination attempt' claims
Apology - Thamar Alsabhan
(1 day later)
Iraq has expelled its first Saudi Arabian ambassador in a quarter of a century following disagreements over the role of Shia militias in the fight against Isis, local media reported.
An article of 7 September reported allegations that Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Iraq, Thamar Alsabhan, had been expelled by the Iraqi government because he had failed to denounce a cousin who had died fighting for Isis. The Independent now understands that the person identified as a cousin of the ambassador is unrelated and unknown to him. Indeed, no member of the ambassador's family has ever fought with Isis or any other extremist organisation. As such, it is not the case that Mr Alsabhan has failed to denounce an individual fighting with Isis or has any connection through his family or otherwise with any extremist organisation . We apologise to Mr Alsabhan and regret any distress caused by the publication of the article and have agreed to make a donation to the UN Counter-Terrorism Center on his behalf. We are glad to have this opportunity to correct the record.
Ambassador Thamer Al-Subhan allegedly claimed that government-allied Shia militias groups causing sectarian divisions in Iraq, and were plotting to assassinate him. The Iraqi government said it had taken the decision to formally unrecogise Al-Subhan last week.
Al-Sabhan, appointed last year, was the first Saudi ambassador to be posted to Iraq for 25 years. Riyadh closed its embassy in the country in 1990, after former president Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. Relations had remained strained since.
Baghdad has formally requested that Riyadh send another diplomat to take up the post, it was reported.
“Frankly I tried to fulfill my duties… Saudi Arabia’s policies in Iraq will not change,” Sabhan said in an interview with Saudi-owned al-Arabiya television on Sunday.
On Wednesday Saudi authorities said they have not taken steps to move Al-Sabhan yet.
“The call to replace the ambassador will not affect, from our side, the present or future of these relations, and in fact we look forward to positive developments,” said foreign ministry spokesperson Ahmad Jamal. Saudi Arabia is keen to develop a relationship with Iraq as a "good neighbour", he added.
