The body had several stab wounds, according to police in Vienna.

The woman was found on Tuesday morning by the cook, the only person present at the residence in Vienna's posh 18th district at the time. The ambassador, Ishaya al-Khoury, was out of the country, police added.

Lebanese authorities, which alerted the police, were cooperating with the investigation and allowed Austrian police officers free access to the scene.

Under rules of extra-territoriality, an ambassador's residence would not usually fall under Austrian jurisdiction.(AFP-Naharnet)