U.S. Diplomat Found Dead On Cyprus

A senior American diplomat missing for four days has been found dead on Cyprus, the U.S. Embassy said Monday.

Lt. Col. Thomas Mooney, 45, disappeared with his car, a black Chevrolet Impala, on Thursday.

Cyprus Police Chief Iakovos Papacostas said Monday that a decomposed body was found 150 meters from Mooney's car in the rural Lefka area, around 28 miles west of the capital, Nicosia. The U.S. Embassy later confirmed that the dead man was Mooney.

"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 defense attaché, was found dead by Cypriot authorities on Monday," U.S. Ambassador Ronald Schlicher said in a written statement.

The cause of his death is being investigated, Schlicher said. He provided no further details. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said U.S. authorities were awaiting results of an autopsy.

Asked if it was a terrorist act, McCormack said: "I don't think there is anything pointing in that direction. I wouldn't point you in the direction of an act of terror."

Cypriot state radio CyBC said authorities seemed to be ruling out foul play.

The Cypriot police chief gave no indication of whether police suspected foul play, or of how the man might have died.

He told The Associated Press the car was spotted Sunday by a man training dogs. Investigating police have sealed off the area, which they described as rugged hilly terrain.

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

Mooney, who was married with children, served as military attaché in Cyprus since June 2006.

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