Head of Intelligence for Iraq in E. Europe Reportedly Defects

An Arabic newspaper says the head of Iraqi intelligence in eastern Europe has defected to a West European country.

The independent newspaper Azzaman reported today that Jaber Salim, 43, officially a consul in the Iraqi Embassy in the Czech Republic, has asked for political asylum, possibly in Germany or Britain.

The report could not be confirmed. Spokesmen for the German Foreign and Interior ministries in Bonn said late Friday that they knew nothing about an Iraqi defector. A spokesman for the British Foreign Office in London said it was not their policy to comment on intelligence matters.

The London-published Azzaman quoted diplomatic sources in Prague as saying that Salim--who ran Iraqi intelligence in the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia--could have defected with Iraqi code ciphers.

“Salim was responsible for the code ciphers of the Iraqi embassies and their secret documents, and information indicates he has taken [the code ciphers] to the country to which he fled,” the paper said.

Salim was responsible for last year’s diplomatic campaign against Radio Free Iraq, a U.S.-funded radio station that broadcasts programs against the Baghdad government, the report said.

The report did not say when Salim defected but said he had fled with his family.

Iraqi Foreign Ministry officials were in Prague to pursue the matter with Czech authorities, the paper said.