Less than 100 Jews live in Iraq.

"We place full responsibility for the act on the president of Iraq," the Babylonian Heritage Group said in a statement. "It is time the Iraqi authorities allow the small number of Jews remaining in Iraq to leave to any country willing to accept them."

The Iraqi cabinet and President Saddam Hussein condemned the killing. The government announced that the perpetrator, whom it believes was born in Kuwait, has been arrested and will face trial.