Military Defends Arrest in Iraq
Posted on: Saturday, 24 February 2007, 09:00 CST
The U.S. military Saturday defended the arrest of a powerful Iraqi Shiite politician's son along the Iraq-Iran border, calling it an unfortunate incident.
Iraqi security troops and coalition forces stopped Ammar al-Hakim from entering Iraq from Iran Friday because his vehicles met specific criteria for further investigation in an area where smuggling activity had taken place, the military said in a statement.
Al-Hakim and his entourage -- including private security officers and police -- were arrested by U.S. troops for failing to cooperate with coalition forces and displaying suspicious activities, the statement said.
Al-Hakim is the son of Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, the leader of the United Iraqi Alliance and the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq.
The military did not apologize in the statement, but U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad Friday said, I'm sorry about the arrest, CNN reported.
The military said unfortunate incidents may occur as Iraq endeavors to secure its borders, adding that al-Hakim was treated with dignity and respect throughout the entire incident, CNN said.
Al-Hakim was released to Iraqi authorities, the military said.
Source: United Press International
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