LOC19:53
16:53 GMT
BAGHDAD, Jan 30 (KUNA) -- Iraqi interior ministry said Monday it arrested
16 bodyguards of vice-president Tareq Al-Hashimi.
The ministry said in a statement it has arrested the bodyguards last night
on charges with using guns and rifles with silencers to kill ministry officers
and judges.
The files of the arrestees will be added to Al-Hashimi's who is facing
terrorism-related charges, it added.
Al-Hashimi has been residing in Iraq's Kurdistan province since a judicial
committee issued an arrest warrant for him. Three of his bodyguards were
arrested and confessed they executed bombings and assassination operations
upon the vice-president's orders. (end)
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KUNA 301953 Jan 12NNNN