U.S. Military Defends Arrest in Iraq

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani Saturday demanded the United States take action in the wake of the controversial arrest of a leading politician’s son.

Talabani said the arrest of Sayyid Ammar al-Hakim was uncivilized, and called on U.S. authorities to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.

Al-Hakim is the son of parliament majority leader Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, the leader of the United Iraqi Alliance and the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq.

Kuwait’s KUNA news service said Ammar al-Hakim was detained and then eventually released by U.S. troops Friday as he and his party drove back into Iraq from a visit to neighboring Iran.

U.S. officials said the party had failed to cooperate at the Badra checkpoint and were acting suspiciously. They called the incident unfortunate.