Brother Of Iraqi Parliament Speaker Reportedly Detained

Iraqi Parliament speaker Hajim al-Hassani (file photo) (AFP) 11 November 2005 -- Reuters news agency has cited Iraqi officials as saying that a brother of Iraq's parliamentary speaker has been detained on suspicion of running an insurgent cell.

The officials said on 10 November that Hatem al-Hassani was detained on 8 November.


His brother, Iraqi Parliament speaker Hajim al-Hassani, a moderate Sunni Arab, is running in the 15 December legislative elections on a secular list.


Rizgar Ali, the head of the Kirkuk city council, said Iraqi police arrested Hatem al-Hassani two days ago because he is the emir of a terrorist group.


He gave no further details. Kirkuk has seen violent confrontation among Sunni Arabs and ethnic Kurdish and Turkmen populations.


Earlier, police in Kirkuk said Hatem al-Hassani had been kidnapped, but later denied the account.


(Reuters)

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