The US State Department said Friday that it will have to force
some diplomats to work in the US embassy in Iraq to fill a growing
number of vacant positions there.
By mid-2008, there will be a total of 250 positions to fill in
and the State Department has not received applications for about 50
of them, said Harry Thomas, director of the State Department's
human resources.
The State Department has listed 200-300 candidate diplomats and
Monday they will receive a letter ordering them to apply for the 50
vacant position in the US embassy in Iraq, Thomas said.
The identified diplomats have 10 days to consider. After that,
if there are still not enough people willing to go to Iraq, the
State Department will order some to go to Iraq to work. Those who
refuse will face dismissal, Thomas said.
Local media said US diplomats who work in Iraq will enjoy extra
pay, vacation and choice of future assignments. However, because of
the serious security situation in Iraq, it remains unpopular to
work in Iraq.
Earlier this year, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
ordered the State Department to give the US embassy in Iraq
staffing priority.
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(Xinhua News Agency October 27, 2007)
