Monday, February 12, 2007
Parliament criticises arrest of deputy health minister
Politics
(Azzaman) The parliament has harshly criticized the arrest by a joint U.S. and Iraqi force of the deputy health minister on Thursday. Parliamentary speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani described the arrests as “a violation … of Iraqi sovereignty”. He said so long as Iraqi sovereignty was “dented” due to U.S. practices, the government will have no integrity in the eyes of the Iraqi people. The speaker made the comments following a speech by Health Minister Ali al-Shamari who had gone to the parliament to explain the circumstances of his deputy’s arrest.
The deputy minister, Hakim al-Zamili, is a key member of the political group led by radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr whose group is in control of the health ministry, among others. He was reported to have aided Sadr’s militias known as ‘Madhi Army’ by allowing them to use ambulances to move weapons.
The deputy minister, Hakim al-Zamili, is a key member of the political group led by radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr whose group is in control of the health ministry, among others. He was reported to have aided Sadr’s militias known as ‘Madhi Army’ by allowing them to use ambulances to move weapons.
