U.S. forces raid govt ministry building in Iraq (arrest Deputy Minister)

[maddezmom]

BAGHDAD, Feb 8 (Reuters) - U.S. and Iraqi forces raided the Health Ministry building in central Baghdad on Thursday and arrested the deputy health minister, a ministry spokesman and witnesses said.

Hakim Zamili, the deputy health minister, is a senior member of the political group loyal to anti-American Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. The raid comes one day after the U.S. military said a U.S.-Iraqi security plan to stabilise Baghdad was under way.

There was no immediate comment from the U.S. military, which has stepped up operations against some Sadr's supporters in recent weeks.

http://mobile.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IBO825782.htm

[Fridays Child]

1. Bush to Iraqis: We will decide who serves in your government, so you can take your...

...purple fingers and shove them up your butts.

[saigon68]

7. Winning their hearts and minds (One detainee at a time)

way to go general pace----you general idiot

[The Magistrate]

2. This Will Be Big Fun, Ma'am

[LynnTheDem]

3. But the US is not an "occupation force" and Iraq is again a "sovereign nation"!

:rofl:

[ninkasi]

4. In that case

I think I need to have Bush explain the meaning of "sovereign nation" to me again.

[LynnTheDem]

11. Let me assist you; "sovereign nation" = any nation King george w. bUsh

calls "sovereign" but effective only for the immediate time of the press conference where King george Declares said nation "sovereign" and no actual rights of sovereignty to attach before, during or after King george's Decision to Declare any nation "sovereign" for that press conference.

Got it now?

[Hissyspit]

5. AP: Iraq's Deputy Health Minister Detained

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IRAQ_HEALTH_MINISTRY?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=HOME

Feb 8, 5:28 AM EST

Iraq's Deputy Health Minister Detained

By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA
Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- U.S. and Iraqi troops on Thursday detained the deputy health minister, a follower of a radical Shiite cleric, a spokesman said.

The joint forces stormed the Health Ministry compound in northern Baghdad and took Hakim al-Zamili from his first-floor office, the spokesman Qassim Yahya said.

Al-Zamili is a member of the movement of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose militia has been blamed for much of the sectarian violence against Sunnis in recent months.

The U.S. military had no immediate comment. The raid comes a day after Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, the chief military spokesman in Iraq said a security plan to stop the rampant attacks in the capital was under way.

One of al-Zamili's bodyguards said he heard gunshots, then the Americans asked him to step aside and approached the deputy health minister, who introduced himself by name and title. A U.S. soldier told al-Zamili he was on a list of wanted names and handcuffed him before leading him away, the bodyguard said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of security concerns.

MORE

[antiimperialist]

8. Article doesn't say why they arrested him

Maybe because he released figures of the dead in Iraq, and the US doesn't want this?

[maddezmom]

9. updated article here:

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi forces on Thursday detained a senior Health Ministry official accused of corruption and helping to funnel millions of dollars to Shiite militiamen blamed for much of the recent sectarian violence in the capital, the U.S. military said.

The raid was the latest action in a crackdown on radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's militia, coming a day after the chief U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said a security sweep to stop the rampant attacks in the capital was under

~snip~

The detainee was implicated in the deaths of several ministry officials, including the director-general in Diyala province, northeast of Baghdad, the military said.

He reportedly orchestrated several kickback schemes related to inflated contracts for equipment and services, with millions of dollars allegedly funneled to the Mahdi Army militia that is loyal to al-Sadr, according to the statement.

The official also was suspected of providing large-scale employment of militia members who used Health Ministry facilities and services for "sectarian kidnapping and murder," the military said.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070208/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

[Eugene]

10. The official story: IA Captures Corrupt Ministry of Health Official

(MNF Iraq)

IA Captures Corrupt Ministry of Health Official
Thursday, 08 February 2007
MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ
COMBINED PRESS INFORMATION CENTER
BAGHDAD, Iraq
http://www.mnf-iraq.com
703.270.0320 / 0299

Feb. 8, 2007
Release A070208c

IA Captures Corrupt Ministry of Health Official

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Special Iraqi Army Forces captured a senior Ministry of Health official today
who is suspected of being a central figure in alleged corruption and rogue Jaysh Al-Mahdi
infiltration of the MoH.

The suspect is implicated in the deaths of several MoH officials, to include the MoH Director
General in Diyala Province.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9774&Itemid=128

The Iraqi Ministry of Health is a well known Sadrist operation. It is telling, however,
that US-led "special" forces are raiding the place rather than the Iraqi government
moving to clean up its own act.

[babylonsister]

6. Top Iraqi official held in raid

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6341321.stm

Top Iraqi official held in raid

US and Iraqi forces in Baghdad have arrested the deputy health minister during a raid at his offices.

The minister, Hakem al-Zamili, is a key member of the political group led by radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr.

He is accused of aiding Shia militiamen and using ambulances to move weapons, a ministry source told the BBC.

US and Iraqi troops have been trying to curb sectarian attacks in Iraq. The latest raid came as a car bomb killed at least 17 people south of Baghdad.

A parked car bomb struck a market in the predominantly Shia town of al-Aziziya, also wounding dozens of people.

The raid on the health ministry took place on Thursday morning.

more...