http://www.aswataliraq.info/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=36864&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0Health official arrest violates Iraqi sovereignty-Minister
Baghdad, Feb 8, (VOI)- Health Minister Ali al-Shemari said on Thursday Iraqi authorities were not informed in advance of his deputy arrest describing such a detention as a "kidnapping operation."
"Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was not informed in advance of the health undersecretary Hakem al-Zamli arrest while officials at Interior and Defense ministries were unaware of the detention operation," Ali al-Shemari told a news conference on Thursday afternoon.
The Minister said "when the U.S. force was detaining al-Zamli, I was on my way to attend a cabinet session and I personally informed Premier al-Maliki of the incident."
"The Prime Minister (Maliki) was unaware of the arrest." He added.
The arrest of al-Zamli is a "kidnapping operation and a violation to Iraq's sovereignty," the health minister added.
Al-Shemari denied charges against al-Zamli over corruption and intimidating and threatening ministry employees.