spacemanspiff
April 14, 2003, 01:36 PM
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=574&e=29&u=/nm/20030414/wl_nm/iraq_spain_dc_1
MADRID (Reuters) - Spain has ordered the expulsion of six Iraqi diplomats after Iraq (news - web sites)'s top envoy confessed there was a cache of weapons and ammunition at the embassy, diplomatic sources said on Monday.
A Foreign Ministry spokesman said six diplomats and one other member of embassy staff had received their expulsion orders on Sunday and had 72 hours to leave the country. "Six diplomats have been declared persona non grata," the ministry spokesman said.
No official reason was given for the expulsions. The charge d'affaires, Iraq's most senior diplomat in Spain, was allowed to stay in the country, along with the consular chief.
Diplomatic sources told Reuters the decision was taken after the charge d'affaires telephoned the Foreign Ministry on Friday to confess to the weapons hoard. Police confiscated the weapons, the sources said.
Local newspaper ABC said the cache included six pistols, eight revolvers, five shotguns, a rifle and a carbine, along with some 800 cartridges.
The United States, which launched a war in Iraq to topple President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites), asked 60 countries, including Spain, to expel Iraqi diplomats engaged in what it called espionage. Spain did not comply at the time.
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar has been a staunch supporter of the U.S-led war effort, despite opposition to the war from the overwhelming majority of Spaniards.
800 cartridges won't get them too far. 21 firearms and 800 rounds? average 38 rounds per gun. probably has more pistol ammo than rifle and shotgun anyways.
edit - at least they didnt say it was an 'arsenal'.
MADRID (Reuters) - Spain has ordered the expulsion of six Iraqi diplomats after Iraq (news - web sites)'s top envoy confessed there was a cache of weapons and ammunition at the embassy, diplomatic sources said on Monday.
A Foreign Ministry spokesman said six diplomats and one other member of embassy staff had received their expulsion orders on Sunday and had 72 hours to leave the country. "Six diplomats have been declared persona non grata," the ministry spokesman said.
No official reason was given for the expulsions. The charge d'affaires, Iraq's most senior diplomat in Spain, was allowed to stay in the country, along with the consular chief.
Diplomatic sources told Reuters the decision was taken after the charge d'affaires telephoned the Foreign Ministry on Friday to confess to the weapons hoard. Police confiscated the weapons, the sources said.
Local newspaper ABC said the cache included six pistols, eight revolvers, five shotguns, a rifle and a carbine, along with some 800 cartridges.
The United States, which launched a war in Iraq to topple President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites), asked 60 countries, including Spain, to expel Iraqi diplomats engaged in what it called espionage. Spain did not comply at the time.
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar has been a staunch supporter of the U.S-led war effort, despite opposition to the war from the overwhelming majority of Spaniards.
800 cartridges won't get them too far. 21 firearms and 800 rounds? average 38 rounds per gun. probably has more pistol ammo than rifle and shotgun anyways.
edit - at least they didnt say it was an 'arsenal'.