Iraqi security forces have captured rockets smuggled by rebels from a nearby nation with the aim of attacking polling stations and elections centers during the run-up to general elections, interim prime minister Ayad Allawi said. Allawi did not specify the type of missiles involved nor did he name the country from which the rockets were allegedly smuggled into Iraq. But he said Sunday that several government ministries are preparing a security plan to prevent attacks during the electoral campaign for a new legislature. "We captured (the rockets) at the beginning of this week. They were supposed to be fired by remote control. They were directed at election centers," Allawi told the Baghdad's Iraqiya television network in a live interview. "Information came from citizens who reported them to special telephone numbers at the Interior Ministry, the intelligence department and the Ministry of Defense Ministry. We did not capture (the rebels) but we seized the weapons. They are, in fact, very modern weapons and harmful at the same time."
Allawi's comments came just days after he accused Syria of harboring senior officials from the ousted regime of former President Saddam Hussein, including his half brother, Sabaawi. Iraq's Defense Minister Hazem Shaalan accused Iran and Syria on Thursday of supporting terrorism in Iraq. "Regrettably I cannot name it, but we know these weapons were smuggled from a nearby country," Allawi said. "These weapons are usually used by armies and we have contacted the concerned country and we are waiting for an explanation. Our initial information shows that (this nation's government) had no knowledge" of the smuggled weapons. |