LOC21:20
18:20 GMT
BAGHDAD, Dec 18 (KUNA) -- The security services of Baghdad International
Airport barred Vice President Tareq Al-Hashimi from travel Sunday, one day
after reports allegedly implicating him in terrorist acts.
The plane carrying Al-Hashimi and seven bodyguards, some of who are wanted
for judiciary, was denied permission to fly to Al-Sulaimaniya airport, north
Iraq, a security source at the Baghdad airport told KUNA under the condition
of anonymity.
The report was indirectly confirmed by an insider of Al-Hashimi's office
who said the plane was still at the Baghdad airport and that the Vice
President was en route to Irbil, the provincial capital of Kurdistan region,
to meet President Jalal Talabani.
In a statement to KUNA the source denied that Al-Hashimi sought to flee
Baghdad after the media campaign targeting him.
The Ministry of Interior and the Supreme Judiciary Council have backed out
of plans to disclose "very serious confessions" of suspects implicated in
"major terror acts and assassinations," and proved to be close aides to "a top
official."
The terror suspects include chief of staff of Al-Hashimi's office and chief
of his guards, according to leaks revealed by parliamentary sources yesterday.
Earlier today chief of staff of Al-Hashimi's office - a leading figure of
Al-Hashimi's Iraqi List, said the government would redeploy armed forces
backed by tanks at the Green Zone and offices of some leader of the List.
The List said its MPs would boycott the session of parliament in protest
against the ongoing campaign.
The cabinet members from the List have also tabled their resignations from
the coalition government to the leaders of the bloc pending a final decision,
the List's spokesman Haider Al-Mulla said.
Al-Mulla added that the resigning figures include Al-Hashimi and Deputy
Prime Minister Saleh Al-Mutlaq. (end)
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KUNA 182120 Dec 11NNNN