Arrest warrant issued for Sunni minister

Source: AP

BAGHDAD - Iraqi authorities issued an arrest warrant against the Sunni culture minister and raided his home on Tuesday after he was accused of ordering an assassination attempt against a secular Sunni politician more than two years ago, officials said.

Culture Minister Asad Kamal al-Hashimi, who was not home when the raid occurred, was identified by two suspected militants as the mastermind of a Feb. 8, 2005, ambush against then-parliamentary candidate Mithal al-Alusi, according to governmental spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh. Al-Alusi escaped unharmed but two of his sons were killed.

"The two who planned and carried out the killings of Mithal al-Alusi's two sons confessed that they took orders from him," al-Dabbagh said, adding that al-Hashimi was a mosque imam at the time but declining to elaborate further.

Al-Hashimi was the first full Cabinet minister to face arrest, although Iraqi authorities have arrested other senior officials, including the deputy health minister who was linked to Shiite militiamen loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070626/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

Arrest warrant issued for Sunni culture minister, accused of ordering the death of another Sunni politician
From CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Authorities in Iraq issued an arrest warrant against the country's Sunni culture minister, accused of ordering the killing of a maverick Sunni politician more than two years ago.

The Iraqi Judiciary Council issued a warrant for Assad al-Hashimi, who wasn't home when his central Baghdad house was raided in the early morning hours of Tuesday.

Al-Hashimi has been accused of ordering the assassination of parliamentary candidate Mithal al-Alusi on Feb. 8, 2005 -- an attempt that failed. He was an imam at a mosque at the time of the incident.

The minister is part of the General Conference of the Iraqi People party, part of the Iraqi Accord Front, the country's largest Sunni bloc.

more:http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/06/26/tuesday/index.html

Iraqi minister sought on 'terrorist' charges 16 minutes ago



BAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraqi forces raided the house of a top Sunni minister and detained dozens of his guards after a court issued a warrant for his arrest on "terrorist" charges, political sources said Tuesday.

Troops raided the house of Asaad Kamal al-Hashemi, minister of culture in the Shiite-led Iraqi government, and arrested his 42 guards, a statement from the General Conference of People of Iraq, Hashemi's party, said.

"They arrested 42 guards of Hashemi saying that he had incited violence against the sons of Mithal Alussi when he was a cleric," it said, referring to a fellow Sunni lawmaker.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070626/wl_mideast_afp/iraqunrestsunni_070626145105;_ylt=AiH2i4b_qzMwsvOq8ybYUViaOrgF

Source: Reuters


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070626/wl_nm/iraq_sheikh_killing_dc

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Source: Reuters


Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/KAM639290.htm

Five killed in central Iraq clashes 7 minutes ago



DIWANIYAH, Iraq (AFP) - At least five people were killed when Shiite militiamen ambushed an Iraqi army patrol in the central city of Diwaniyah, officials said Tuesday.

Two women were among the dead and another 14 people were wounded, including four teenage girls, according to a security official.

The fighting began when gunmen opened fire on the patrol in the northern part of the predominantly Shiite city, setting a Humvee alight. Explosions and gunfire spread across neighbouring areas.

"Two police cars have been burned and ambulances cannot reach the area," a police official said shortly after the fighting began. He later added that five houses and 15 civilian vehicles had been destroyed.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070626/wl_mideast_afp/iraqunrestdiwaniyah_070626145237;_ylt=AoqV8IA76mYRAltlEbkUPneaOrgF

Gunmen assassinate Baghdad University official
BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Gunmen shot and killed a top Baghdad University official Tuesday, the Interior Ministry told CNN.

Nihad Mohammed al-Rawi, the deputy dean of Baghdad University, was being driven home from work when gunmen intercepted his car and shot him. Al-Rawi's driver and a passenger, his daughter, were unharmed.

The incident occurred around 2 p.m. in western Baghdad's Yarmouk district.

more:http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/06/26/tuesday/index.html

Source: Reuters


Link: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/YAT664616.htm