 Iraqi security forces arrested dozens of people, including the son of a leading Sunni Arab politician, in a pre-dawn raid on Friday after a car rigged with explosives was found near the lawmaker's office.
The incident threatened to increase political tension across Iraq's sectarian divide at a time when violence has been falling dramatically.
| I'll go out on a limb and say that it won't increase political tensions all that much. Most Iraqis will be pleased that the bomb was found in time and that the bombers were arrested. |
The Shi'ite-led government said Adnan al-Dulaimi, leader of the Accordance Front, the main Sunni Arab bloc, could be stripped of the immunity from prosecution he holds as a member of parliament if he was found to have links to car bombs. "No one is above the law. Dr Adnan al-Dulaimi has immunity, but this does not exempt him from questioning and accountability," government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said.
| That's exactly the line to take. Then you have to mean it. That means Shi'a lawmakers who get caught doing things that aid the insurgency have to be handled the same way. Then the average Iraqi will get it, and then they'll support it. |
"The case is very serious and the accusations against him are very serious. He has to prove his innocence. He will be called for questioning. If the charges against him are proven, his immunity will definitely be lifted."
| Um, no, you got that part wrong. He doesn't have to prove his innocence. You have to prove his guilt. 'Innocent until proven guilty' is a new idea for the Arab world, but once you try it you'll see it works much better, since it prevents thugs from jugging people without evidence. |
Dulaimi rejected the accusations. "This is all not true. These are false accusations," Dulaimi told Reuters. "We are the ones who are subject to terrorism."
Seven people were arrested on Thursday at Dulaimi's office and 29, including Dulaimi's son Mekki, were seized in a raid early on Friday at Dulaimi's house, said Brigadier General Qassim Moussawi, security spokesman for Baghdad. |