For US military in Iraq "dignity and respect" means hands bound and blindfolded

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Saturday saw a surge of anti-US sentiment in Iraq sparked by the brief arrest the previous day by US forces of Ammar al-Hakim, son of powerful Shiite politician Abdel Aziz al-Hakim.

The Iraqi president (Talabani) demanded "guarantees that such abuses will not be repeated," his office said in a statement.

"President Talabani expressed deep regret and sorrow over what happened to the well known national personality Sayyid Ammar al-Hakim," the statement said, using the honorific for a descendant of the Prophet.

It added that Talabani viewed the treatment of Hakim as "uncivilised and indecent, and he has demanded that the American leadership hold those behind it responsible."

Hakim's son told a news conference in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf that he believed the US military had deliberately targeted him, and accused the troops of treating him roughly after they picked him up on Friday.

"Senior officials planned to arrest me and these officials gave instructions to personnel at the site," he said. "They tied my hands and blindfolded me."

US military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Chris Garver said Hakim had been detained because his convoy "met specific criteria for further investigation in an area where smuggling activity has taken place in the past.

"Mr Hakim was treated with dignity and respect throughout the incident."


http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=164126