43 held after bombs found at Sunni leader's office

Source: AFP

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Authorities arrested more people on Friday after car bombs were found near the offices of Iraqi politician Adnan al-Dulaimi but did not say whether they thought he was the target or intended to use them himself.

Dulaimi, who told AFP he may have been targeted, said US and Iraqi troops held 43 people in raids on his Baghdad office and home after discovering two primed car bombs nearby.

"Early in the morning US and Iraqi troops came to my home and arrested 30 people, including my son Mekki," Dulaimi said.

He said troops had detained 13 people in a Thursday evening raid.

At the time, the Iraqi military Thursday announced the discovery of two vehicles packed with explosives at the premises in Baghdad's Hail Adel neighbourhood.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071130/wl_mideast_afp/iraqunrestsunnidulaimibomb_071130100219

again. We should be getting out now and would be if it were not for the imbecile in chief

BAGHDAD, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Iraqi security forces arrested dozens of people, including the son of a leading Sunni Arab politician, in a pre-dawn raid on Friday after a car rigged with explosives was found near the lawmaker's office.

The incident threatened to increase political tension across Iraq's sectarian divide at a time when violence has been falling dramatically.

The Shi'ite-led government said Adnan al-Dulaimi, leader of the Accordance Front, the main Sunni Arab bloc, could be stripped of the immunity from prosecution he holds as a member of parliament if he was found to have links to car bombs.

"No one is above the law. Dr Adnan al-Dulaimi has immunity, but this does not exempt him from questioning and accountability," government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said.

"The case is very serious and the accusations against him are very serious. He has to prove his innocence. He will be called for questioning. If the charges against him are proven, his immunity will definitely be lifted."

Dulaimi rejected the accusations.

More at link: http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL30246733

This has potential go from bad to worse quite fast.