Czech FM condemns arms at Palestinian embassy

Associated Press

PRAGUE (AP) — The Czech Foreign Ministry has used strong words to condemn the discovery of illegal weapons at the Palestinian embassy complex where a possible booby-trapped safe killed the ambassador.

In a Monday statement, the ministry says it considers it "a serious violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations." It says it expects the Palestinians to "clearly and unequivocally" explain the incident.

Ambassador Jamal al-Jamal, 56, died Wednesday after an embassy safe exploded. The career diplomat had only started his posting in October.

Police say 12 unregistered weapons were found.

Deputy Palestinian Foreign Minister Taysir Jaradat denied the weapons were illegal and said they dated to the Cold War.

It remains unclear what caused the safe to explode but the ambassador's death is being investigated as a case of negligence.