An aide of Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr was detained by occupation forces in Iraq, according to reports Tuesday. Hazem al-Araj was reportedly arrested by US soldiers in Baghdad, the reports said.
The troops arrested al-Araj as he attended a meeting of
tribal leaders at a hotel Tuesday. He was detained as he entered the conference hall at the Palestine Hotel. His bodyguards reportedly tried to prevent the arrest, but stepped aside when confronted by the soldiers.
The troops took him to the neighboring Sheraton Hotel.
Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi on Monday in Tehran dismissed as "baseless and untrue" several foreign media reports that said Moqtada Sadr was seeking asylum in Iran.
A report released by the Foreign Ministry media department, and cited by IRNA news agency, quoted Asefi as stressing Iran does not meddle with Iraq`s internal affairs.
"Spreading such speculations is a clear act of mischief and diversion of the public opinion from the ruthless genocide of the innocent Iraqi people," he added. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
