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| Iraq |
| Iraq's Sunni politicians angry over arrests |
| 2008-08-21 |
| Top Sunni politicians on Wednesday accused Iraq's Shiite-dominated security forces of carrying out political arrests, and warned that this could push Iraq into another round of sectarian fighting. The outcry came in response to the high-profile arrests Tuesday of three Sunnis -- the son of a senior politician, a university president and a provincial council member. The arrests could upset the delicate political cooperation between the Shiite majority and Sunni minority in parliament. The Sunnis' angry words -- though not backed by specific threats of action -- highlighted the country's stubborn religious divisions. Sectarian hatred pushed Iraq to the brink of all-out Sunni-Shiite civil war two years ago, though recent months have seen a sharp drop in violence. Despite its domestic troubles, Iraq's Shiite-led government took another step toward wider recognition Wednesday, winning a pledge of support from visiting Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora. Since the U.S.-led 2003 invasion of Iraq, the country had been largely isolated. Saniora, a Sunni, was only the third senior Arab politician to visit since the war. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said the two countries would sign trade deals, including on the sale of Iraqi oil to Lebanon. The Lebanese are expected to get a discount, one official said. The latest round of arrests began early Tuesday, with raids in the town of Baqouba in the volatile Diyala province, where a university professor and provincial council member were taken. Late Tuesday, security forces arrested the son of a senior Sunni politician, Adnan al-Dulaimi. Al-Dulaimi said troops arrested his 44-year-old son, Muthanna, at the family's home in western Baghdad. Another son was detained eight months ago. Al-Dulaimi said Muthanna is not involved in politics, and that his arrest was meant to silence his father instead. An Iraqi military spokesman, Maj. Gen. Qassim Atta, told the state-run Iraqiyah TV that Muthanna al-Dulaimi is suspected of involvement in sectarian killings, forcing Shiites out of certain areas and banning displaced families from returning. |
| Posted by:Fred |