Posted on 12/17/2008 10:33:19 PM PST by smokingfrog
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - About 35 Iraqi officials have been arrested at the interior ministry, some accused of planning a coup, the New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing senior security officials in Baghdad.
The arrests over the past three days were carried out by an elite counterterrorism force that reports directly to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, the report said.
Senior security officials said there was significant evidence tying those arrested to Al Awda, a group accused of working to reconstitute the Baath Party of late Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein, the Times reported.
The newspaper cited a high-ranking interior ministry official as saying those affiliated with Al Awda had paid bribes to other officers to recruit them and that huge amounts of money had been found in the raids.
Critics of Maliki accuse him of using arrests to consolidate power a month ahead of provincial elections, the Times said.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Al Awda, a group accused of working to reconstitute the Baath Party of late Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein
A bit late... now that he and his sons are in hell. As a consolidation they can now cheer our Hussein.
Watch and see how Iraq treats their dims.
LLS
I spent a little over a year working directly with the MOI (just finished that mission April of this year before moving on to my current one) and it was Shia rule all the way.
I'm just getting back from three weeks at home on R&R. I just arrived in Kuwait earlier this eveining and will be back in Iraq this weekend. I will definitely check this one out.
Stay safe.
Look for my shameless, useless "Five Years in Iraq Anniversary" vanity thread on January 18th. Heh, heh...
I’m sure that Syria’s president Assad was SHOCKED! Shocked to hear about a Bath’ist coup attempt in Iraq.
Sounds like some of it had to do with allegations of corruption.
P.S. Hope you enjoyed your R&R. Too bad you can't be home for Christmas.
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