Iraq's former ambassador to Syria Mohammed Rifaat El-Aani has attempted to commit suicide after his recent return to Baghdad, shooting himself in the head at his house in the Iraqi capital, the Arabic Al Hayat newspaper reported on Sunday.
He is currently in a critical condition, fighting for his life in a Baghdad hospital, the daily quoted an unnamed diplomatic source as saying.
Aani was among the 35 Iraqi ambassadors during Saddam Hussein's regime who had returned to Baghdad in response to a call by the U.S. occupation authorities. He was interrogated for at least four hours and spent three days in prison before he was allowed to go to his home.
The diplomatic source said the main topic during Aani's interrogation was Saddam's regime officials who allegedly fled to Syria after his removal.
Al-Aani was the first Iraqi ambassador to open diplomatic activity between the two states in 1997 following a cession of relations that started at the outset of the 1980s. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
