사담 후세인의 바트 당을 재건하려고 모의하다 체포된 관리 23명을 석방했다고, 이라크 내무부가 밝혔습니다.
자와드 알-볼라니 이라크 내무장관은 19일 기자들과 만나, 이들의 체포는 정치적인 동기로 이뤄진 것이며, 치안에 대한 우려 때문은 아니라고 말했습니다. 알-볼라니 장관은, 국방과 치안 관련 관리들인 이들이 쿠데타를 모의했다는 의혹은 부인했습니다.
한편 지난 14일 조지 부시 대통령의 기자회견장에서 신발을 던진 후 체포된 문타자르 알-자이디의 대변인은, 알-자이디가 체포 과정에서 심한 폭행을 당했다고 말했습니다.
이라크에서는 수 천명이 거리에 나와서 알-자이디의 석방을 요구하는 시위를 벌였습니다.
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Iraq's interior ministry says authorities have released some 23 officials accused of working to rebuild the outlawed Baath party of former leader Saddam Hussein.
Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani told reporters on Friday the arrests were motivated by politics, and not security. He denied that the detained security and defense ministry officials were planning a coup.
In other news, an Iraqi judge and a lawyer for Muntazer al-Zaidi say the reporter was badly beaten during his arrest. Zaidi has been in Iraqi custody since Sunday, when he threw shoes at visiting U.S. President George Bush during a news conference in Iraq.
Thousands of Iraqis have protested in the streets, demanding the reporter's release. Zaidi has become somewhat of a folk hero for his action against Mr. Bush.
Iraq's interior ministry says authorities have released some 23 officials accused of working to rebuild the outlawed Baath party of former leader Saddam Hussein.
Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani told reporters on Friday the arrests were motivated by politics, and not security. He denied that the detained security and defense ministry officials were planning a coup.
In other news, an Iraqi judge and a lawyer for Muntazer al-Zaidi say the reporter was badly beaten during his arrest. Zaidi has been in Iraqi custody since Sunday, when he threw shoes at visiting U.S. President George Bush during a news conference in Iraq.
Thousands of Iraqis have protested in the streets, demanding the reporter's release. Zaidi has become somewhat of a folk hero for his action against Mr. Bush.