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Iraq tells Portugal "too early" to lift diplomatic immunity of Iraqi ambassador's sons

Xinhua, October 22, 2016 Adjust font size:

In Portugal's request to lift the diplomatic immunity of twin sons of the Iraqi ambassador, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said it is too early to make a decision, Portugal's Foreign Ministry said in an official statement on Friday.

"The Iraqi note appreciates the indications conveniently supplied regarding the judicial system and the Portuguese procedural law, and affirms that Iraq understands and respects the legal proceedings applied," the statement said.

"It reiterates the desire to cooperate for a full clarification of the facts and points to the readiness of the sons of the Iraqi ambassador in Lisbon to be heard in the inquiry underway, but considers it too early for a decision to be taken regarding lifting their immunity," the note added.

The 17-year-old twins, Haider and Ridha Ali, allegedly attacked 15-year-old Ruben Cavaco in August in the town of Ponte de Sor, around 180 km north of Lisbon, and left him in coma following an altercation at a bar.

They were freed after the authorities discovered they were sons of Iraqi ambassador Saad Mohammed Ridha, and have diplomatic immunity from prosecution.

Portugal last week called on Iraq to respond until the end of this week to the request to lift the diplomatic immunity. Endit