Saturday, March 10, 2007
Portugal closes embassy in Iraq
Security
(RFE/RL) Portugal will close its embassy in Iraq due to the ongoing violence there and the related costs of maintaining security, the Portuguese Foreign Ministry announced on March 7, international media reported on March 8. Foreign Minister Luis Amado reportedly informed Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari of the decision, the statement noted, adding that the embassy will remain closed "as long as the security conditions do not change," AFP reported. Portugal's Ambassador to Iraq Francisco Falcao Machado has already returned to Lisbon and the 14 Portuguese police who guard the embassy are expected home by month's end, AFP reported.
