adding IDP-connector through icontrolRest from metadata

Is there a way to create an IDP connector using metadata though the rest interface? I have tried inserting the xml into the importMetadata Field with no luck. this is the payload I am posting to /mgmt/tm/apm/aaa/saml-idp-connector/

{"name":"okta_xxx_idp","importMetadata":" http://www.okta.com/exk5a6vwbiMXQpIp50h7\"> http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig\"> xxxxxxxxxxxxxx urn:oasis:names:tc:SAML:1.1:nameid-format:emailAddress urn:oasis:names:tc:SAML:1.1:nameid-format:unspecified https://xxxstage.oktapreview.com/app/x_1/exk5a6vwbiMXQpIp50h7/sso/saml\"/> https://xxxstage.oktapreview.com/app/x_1/exk5a6vwbiMXQpIp50h7/sso/saml\"/> "}

note: removed the cert info