LOC21:32
18:32 GMT
BAGHDAD, April 10 (KUNA) -- Two of Iraqi vice-president Tareq Al-Hashemi's
bodyguards were killed due to torture they were exposed to during
interrogation, Al-Hashemi's office said Tuesday.
"Two other persons of vice-president Al-Hashemi's bodyguards have died
because of extreme torture ... few days before the Arab summit," the office
said in a statement.
It said the government security authorities did not announce their death
because they feared it would affect the Arab Summit. The authorities, it
added, were keeping the bodies of the bodyguards in an unknown place.
It called upon Iraq's chief justice, public prosector, parliament speaker
and relevant chairpersons of the parliamentary committees to disclose
circumstances of the death.
Al-Hashemi, earlier, announced the death of his bodyguard Amer Al-Batawi
due to torture. The Iraqi judiciary attributed the death to kidney failure.
Al-Hashemi is at odds with the Iraqi government after a judicial committee
issued an arrest warrant against him on terrorism-related charges. (end)
ahh.bs
KUNA 102132 Apr 12NNNN