US envoy goes missing in Cyprus

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The US embassy in Cyprus has issued an appeal for information on a senior diplomat who has now been missing for three days.

Defence attache Tom Mooney, 54, was last seen in his car, which is also missing, in Nicosia on Thursday.

Cyprus police said the case was "sensitive" and gave no further details on the search.

Cyprus is thought safe for diplomats, although Greek Cypriot protesters shot dead a US ambassador in 1974.

Mountain roads

Tom Mooney holds the rank of lieutenant-colonel and is on his second tour of duty on the island in the past five years.

The embassy says it is not linking his disappearance with any terrorist activity at this stage.

There are concerns Col Mooney might have had an accident on one of the island's narrow mountain roads. His phone was believed to be switched off.

Cypriot Justice Minister Sophocles Sophocleous refused to speculate on the case: "I have nothing more to say than that which has already been made public at this time."

The embassy had issued a low-level alert but contacted police on Friday when no trace was found of the employee.

Few diplomats have been at risk in Cyprus.

There was an attempted bombing of the Israeli embassy in 1988. The car bomb exploded prematurely, killing the Lebanese driver and two Cypriot bystanders.

The US ambassador in 1974, Rodger Davies, was shot dead by protesters angry at US policy over the Turkish invasion of the north of the island that year.