Iraqi Interior Ministry Statement Disputes Arrests Account

National Security Minister Accuses Interior Minister of Trying to Promote Electoral Campaigns

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.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.