Wednesday’s report of arrests inside Iraq’s Interior Ministry continues to confound the world’s journalists, as government officials can’t seem to get their stories straight. Another day has come and gone, and while we’re no closer to knowing the truth about what happened, the source of the conflicting versions is becoming a little more clear: political rancor.

The Iraqi National Security Minister Sherwan al-Waili, who was among the first to dispute Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani’s claim that all those arrested had been released, hit out more directly at Bolani today, accusing him of using the incident to promote electoral campaign.

Meanwhile Bolani’s own ministry, in a statement today on the incident, directly contradicted his story. They count 24 detainees, and claim the sum total of the accusations were “suspicion” of making fake badges as part of a planned terrorist attack on the Interior Ministry’s building. They agree that a judge ordered their release, but unlike Bolani they insist the suspects are all still in custody.

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