Justice Continues to Evade Postwar Iraq (Chalabi)

[Barrett808]

Justice Continues to Evade Postwar Iraq
By JAMIE TARABAY, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Judge Zuhair Al-Maliky signed an arrest warrant two months ago for Riyad Mahoud, governor of Maysan province, over the murder of a police chief. But Mahoud is still at large, as are nearly 20 other high-ups, wanted on charges ranging from murder and kidnapping to fraud and illegal possession of government property.

In postwar Iraq, still under reconstruction and lashed by a widening insurgency, it appears the long arm of the law just isn't long — or willing — enough.

The post-occupation era is less than two months old — and clearly it will take more time to marry institutions established by the Americans to the new bureaucracy that Iraq's interim government is trying to create. The Central Criminal Court was part of the departing U.S. occupation's legacy, and has Iraqi judges, lawyers and clerks. But the government, keen to assert its independence from Washington, appears to be slow in executing its warrants.

The Maysan governor is one example. Another is Ahmad Chalabi, a former Governing Council member and one-time Pentagon (news - web sites) favorite, who is wanted on counterfeiting charges. But Chalabi's case has turned out to be far from simple.

After his arrest warrant was issued 10 days ago, Chalabi announced he was returning from Iran to Baghdad to clear his name. Far from preparing the handcuffs, Interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi begged him to stay away until the situation was resolved. Less than 24 hours later, the Interior Ministry announced it would temporarily suspend the warrant.

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040822/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_thwarted_justice&cid=540&ncid=1480

[sattahipdeep]

1. Prime Minister Ayad Allawi Bremer. n/t