Baghdad, July 10, SPA -- Iraq's prime minister promised Sundayto increase security at diplomatic missions and praisedEgypt's "brave and courageous move" to boost relationswith his government during a press conference. Egypt's diplomat Ihab al-Sherif was seized July 2 by up to eight gunmen on a Baghdad street. Five days later, al-Qaida in Iraq claimed in a Web posting that it had killed the envoy and would"punish" Arab and Muslim states that recognize theU.S.-backed Iraqi government. The Associated Press quoted Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari as saying he does not believe the killing will make countries refrain from sending diplomatic missions to Iraq, adding that "Jordan, forexample, is intent to send a mission." Al-Jaafari, who called for an investigation intoal-Sherif's killing, promised to improve security arounddiplomatic missions. He called ambassadors "to coordinatewith the Interior Ministry when they go out so they can beprotected in a better way." "We confirm from our side to guarantee enoughprotection," he added. During the press conference, al-Jaafari said the attack onal-Sherif was an attempt "to assassinate Iraqi-Egyptianrelations" and undermine Baghdad's ties throughout theArab and Muslim world.--SPA1341 Local Time 1041 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/275831