CAIRO, July 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Egyptian Foreign Ministry contacted Sunday with Iraqi government and all other related parties to clarify the reports claiming the disappearance of top Egyptian diplomat in Baghdad, the official MENA news agency reported.  

    MENA quoted a ministry official as saying that the ministry hopes for a speedy clarification of the situation of ambassador Ihab al-Sharif, adding that the diplomat is in charge of strengthening relations between Iraq and Egypt.

    Another report from MENA quoted a source from the Egyptian diplomatic mission in Iraq as saying that Ihab al-Sharif was most likely abducted.

    The sources said the ambassador did not arrive at the Egyptian embassy's premises on Sunday, something that strengthens the possibility that he has been kidnapped.

    Ihab Al Sharif was appointed as head of the Egyptian diplomatic mission in June.  Enditem