FOREIGN MINISTRY DENIES AMBASSADOR TO RESUME UN POST IN VIENNA

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26 (Bernama) -- Foreign Minister Anifah Aman
today denied a local media report that ambassador Arshad Hussain was
resuming his post as the country's permanent repre­sentative to the United
Nations in Vienna.

The report carried by an English daily yesterday was "factually inaccurate",
he said in a statement issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Wisma Putra), the
foreign ministry.

"Arshad Hussain has been allowed to return to Vienna to be with his
family and attend to personal matters until further instructions from the
ministry. The erroneous report is indeed misleading," said Anifah.

The career diplomat, who is also envoy to Austria, was summoned back after
Malaysia voted against a UN resolution adopted against Iran's nuclear programme
on Nov 27.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Wisma Putra) had said the vote was not in
accordance with the "procedures of the government" and had recalled Arshad for
consultations.

The minister is currently on an official visit to Saudi Arabia.

-- BERNAMA