"I'm under house arrest" - Iraq Sunni Arab leader

[sabra]

Source: Reuters

BAGHDAD, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Iraq's largest Sunni Arab political bloc walked out of parliament on Saturday and its leader said he had been placed under house arrest after his son and dozens of members of his entourage were detained.

...

"We walked out today and announced we will not attend the session today or tomorrow unless the pressure is lifted off Dr Dulaimi and he is allowed to move wherever he likes," Jubouri told Reuters at parliament in Baghdad's heavily fortified "Green Zone" government and diplomatic compound.

The standoff could worsen sectarian tension between the minority Sunni Arab community and the Shi'ite-led government at a time when violence in Iraq has been falling but progress toward political reconciliation is still slow.

U.S. forces and the Iraqi government have said they asked Dulaimi to stay at home for his own safety after Iraqi troops arrested dozens of his bodyguards and aides under suspicion of links to a car bomb found near his office.

....
Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh denied Dulaimi was under house arrest. "There are no orders to place Dr. Adnan al-Dulaimi under house arrest. He has parliamentary immunity and the government respects the immunity," Dabbagh told Reuters.

"He is in custody for his own protection and because there are investigations going on."

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L01676950.htm

[bluerum]

1. Don't look now Dr.Dulaimi, but your whole damn country is under house arrest. eom

[acmavm]

2. When all is said and done, that's exactly what's going on.

I just can't figure out how the idiot disgrace in the White House can square all this with 'Let freedom reign'.