Missing US diplomat found dead in Cyprus

The US defence attache in Cyprus was found dead in a remote rural area of the Mediterranean island on Monday, four days after he disappeared with his diplomatic car, sparking an island-wide search.

A postmortem showed Lt. Col. Thomas Mooney, 45, bled to death from a cut to the throat, according to a police statement released late Monday. It did not clarify whether foul play was suspected, adding that the diplomat was identified by his dental records.

However, a Cypriot official involved in the autopsy said the diplomat fatally wounded himself.

"There is no evidence of foul play," the official told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. "He had a wound in the neck which is compatible with self-infliction."

Mooney disappeared with his car, a black Chevrolet Impala, on Thursday, and a ground and air search operation turned up nothing until Monday.

Police said Mooney's decomposed body was found near his car, which was parked on a dirt road in the Lefka area, a remote region of rugged, hilly terrain around 28 miles west of the capital, Nicosia.

Hours later the US Embassy confirmed that the dead man was Mooney - who is married with children.

"After the notification of next of kin, with deep sadness, I announce that Lt. Col. Thomas Mooney, who served his nation with distinction as our defence attache, was found dead by Cypriot authorities on Monday," US Ambassador Ronald Schlicher said in a written statement.

The US State Department said there was no indication of terrorist involvement.

"I wouldn't point you in the direction of an act of terror," US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

Mooney was last seen at around midday Thursday.

Cypriot officials were notified at least a day later, after the embassy conducted its own search. Police checked ports, airports and checkpoints linking the divided island's Greek and Turkish communities.

The embassy posted a message on its Web site on Saturday - with photos of Mooney and his car - urging anyone with information that might help locate him to contact police.

Mooney served as military attache in Cyprus since June 2006.

Schlicher said the embassy was canceling an Independence Day reception scheduled for late yesterday, "in light of these sad circumstances."