PETER GRAFF
IN BAGHDAD
IRAQ and the United States sought to prevent an exodus of diplomats from Baghdad yesterday after an ambush prompted Pakistan to pull out its ambassador, Bahrain's envoy was shot and Egypt's was kidnapped.
The Pakistani and Bahraini diplomats were both attacked by gunmen in their cars on Tuesday, three days after the Egyptian chief of mission, Ihab el-Sherif, was snatched from the streets.
Al-Qaeda's wing in Iraq said it was holding Mr Sherif. The group, which has beheaded foreign captives in the past, yesterday displayed the Egyptian's driving licence and foreign ministry and health insurance cards on a website to prove it had him.
"These are the identification cards of the ambassador of tyrants," the group said in a statement.
Iraq's new leader called on countries not to withdraw. "The terrorists are targeting not only Iraqis, although it is happening inside Iraq," prime minister Ibrahim Jaafari said.
"We hope all countries will stand beside us, to bolster the democratic process and continue to carry out their political work in Iraq, mindful of security procedures."
Washington echoed the plea. "It's no secret Iraq is a dangerous place," Adam Hobson, a US embassy spokesman said. "We believe it's important for the international community to show support for the Iraqis by establishing and maintaining a diplomatic presence."
Iraq's interior minister, Bayan Jabor, said the government had "a plan to protect diplomats after these incidents". He gave no details. He also said that some diplomats were lax over security.
"The Egyptian ambassador went to a hot-spot alone and he bears responsibility for that," Mr Jabor said. Diplomats have said Mr Sherif was grabbed when he went out to buy a newspaper, apparently without security protection.
Pakistan announced it was moving its ambassador, Mohammad Younis Khan, to the Jordanian capital, Amman, on Tuesday, immediately after his guards repelled an attack by gunmen on his motorcade.
"We will review this decision when we detect any improvement in the security situation," a Pakistani foreign ministry spokesman said in Islamabad.
But Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa responded by swiftly promoting his envoy - struck in the right hand by a bullet when gunmen fired into his car in what the Gulf Arab state called an abduction attempt.
"In honouring and appreciating what Hassaan al-Ansari has done for his country, his majesty the king has ordered he be promoted to ambassador," the official BNA news agency said.
Unlike embassies of Britain, the US and other countries that helped invade Iraq in 2003 - which are housed in the fortified Green Zone government compound - the missions that have been attacked rely on their own security in the city.
The campaign against diplomats seems aimed at denying the US-backed, Shiite-led government in Baghdad the legitimacy it craves through improved ties. Other Arab countries, nearly all ruled by Sunnis, still have only tentative relations.