The United Arab Emirates ambassador to Iraq took up his post on Tuesday, becoming the first Arab ambassador in Baghdad since Egypt's envoy was kidnapped and killed in 2005. Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi hailed the arrival of ambassador Abdullah Ibrahim al-Shehhi.
"It is a message to all states which are still hesitant to open their diplomatic missions in Iraq," Hashemi said after Shehhi presented his credentials. "This new, heavy diplomatic presence in Iraq is proof that Iraq has started to recover from the last five years of crisis."