NEWS ON TURKEY

United States Condemns Attack on Turkish Ambassador to Iraq

U.S. Embassy in Baghdad calls for perpetrators to be brought to justice

January 3, 2006

The United States has condemned the attack on the motorcade of Turkish Ambassador to Iraq Unal Cevikoz, according to a statement released by the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

The statement, dated January 3, called for a thorough investigation of the attack and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

A convoy of three vehicles, one of which was carrying Cevikoz, was attacked in Baghdad January 2 by insurgents with machine guns, damaging some of the vehicles.

Following is the text of the embassy statement:

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Embassy of the United States of America
Baghdad, Iraq
FOR IMMEDIATE Release
January 3, 2006

Statement by the U.S. Embassy – Baghdad, Iraq

The United States Government strongly condemns the attack on the motorcade of the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Iraq.  We fully support the Turkish Embassy’s request that the Iraqi Government commence immediately a thorough investigation of this dastardly act and bring the perpetrators to justice.