Jordan's King Abdullah II has named a new ambassador to Baghdad. The official Petra news agency said ambassador Nayef al-Zaidan was sworn in at a brief ceremony Monday at the royal palace, attended by the king and his top aides. 
According to the AP, government sources said al-Zaidan will take up his post soon. Al-Zaidan has served as Jordan's consul general in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Earlier in June, Abdullah promised visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki that he would soon send an envoy to Baghdad. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain also promised to reopen their embassies in Baghdad.
Meanwhile, five Iraqi judges escaped assassination Monday in a series of small bomb attacks that police believe may be part of a Shiite campaign to force them to free jailed militants or reduce their sentences. Only one of the jurists was injured in the attacks, which happened four days after senior judge Kamil al-Showaili of the country's Higher Judicial Council was assassinated while driving home in mostly Shiite east Baghdad.
Police said it was unclear whether al-Showaili's slaying was related to the latest attacks, which also took place in east Baghdad.
© 2008 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
