CAIRO, July 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Egypt on Thursday expressed deep shock and grief over the murder of Ihab el-Sharif, head of Egypt's diplomatic mission in Iraq, the official MENA news agency reported.

    Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said in a statement that the late el-Sharif has lost his life to terrorism that has no religion or homeland, expressing condolence to Sharif's family.

    The statement said that such a terror act would not dissuade Egypt from maintaining its supportive stance to the Iraqi people.

    The Egyptian Foreign Ministry praised Sharif as an ardent patriot who fell while undertaking his duty in the service of the Egyptian and Iraqi peoples alike.

    During a meeting with a number of Egyptian ambassadors and consuls, Minister of Interior Habib el-Adli hailed Egypt's experience in combating terrorism and violence, saying that his ministry took an anti-terror strategy based on collecting information on elements of violence and extremism.

    Meanwhile, Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz called Mubarak on Thursday over the killing of Sharif, denouncing the terror act.

    Iraq's al-Qaida group killed Sharif on Thursday, four days after he was kidnapped by the group in Baghdad, according to a videotape posted on an Islamic website.

    Last month, Egypt became the first Arab country to respond to a US call for upgrading diplomatic missions in Baghdad. Enditem