Gumleaf
September 25th, 2007, 11:55 PM
Wednesday Sep 26 11:59 AEST
A Malaysian diplomat has apologised to the Iraqi government after he mistook a box of sweet pickles sent to him as a Ramadan gift for anthrax powder, a newspaper reported.
The incident has sparked a protest from Baghdad, with its envoy to Malaysia expressing displeasure over the diplomat's "panic-stricken behaviour."
"It is such a special sweet, and this year I wanted to show my appreciation to the Malaysian government, the ministry and my friends," the New Straits Times quoted Iraq's charge d'affaires, Hoshiar Dazayi, as saying.
He said the diplomat's apology still fell short of an official apology from the Malaysian government.
The Malaysian diplomat had faxed a letter offering his "sincere and deepest apologies" to the Iraqi government, adding that it was "purely a misunderstanding" on his part.
©AAP 2007
A Malaysian diplomat has apologised to the Iraqi government after he mistook a box of sweet pickles sent to him as a Ramadan gift for anthrax powder, a newspaper reported.
The incident has sparked a protest from Baghdad, with its envoy to Malaysia expressing displeasure over the diplomat's "panic-stricken behaviour."
"It is such a special sweet, and this year I wanted to show my appreciation to the Malaysian government, the ministry and my friends," the New Straits Times quoted Iraq's charge d'affaires, Hoshiar Dazayi, as saying.
He said the diplomat's apology still fell short of an official apology from the Malaysian government.
The Malaysian diplomat had faxed a letter offering his "sincere and deepest apologies" to the Iraqi government, adding that it was "purely a misunderstanding" on his part.
©AAP 2007