Muqtada Al-Sadr tooling around Iraq in a bullet-proof Mercedes these days

[NNN0LHI]

http://aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=1&id=3193

Iraqi Source Claims Al-Jaafari involved in dissapearance of Al-Khoei file

Asharq Al-Awsat, London - A prominent Iraqi judicial source has disclosed to Asharq al-Awsat that the original file of the investigations into the assassination of Shiite cleric Abdul Majid al-Khoei in Najaf, 10 April 2003, has dissapeared. The file accuses the young Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr and some of his supporters of carrying out the assassination. It added that the warrant for their arrests also disappeared. Raid Juhi, the investigating judge in Najaf at that time, presently chief investigative judge at the trial of deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and his senior officials, issued the arrest warrant.

The source told Asharq al-Awsat that the "government of Ibrahim al-Jaafari is behind the disappearance of the original file which indicts Al-Sadr on the bases of eyewitness testimonies and important documents that include a video recording, documentary photos, and medical reports." According to the source, "the file was replaced by another that includes the accounts of those who had no connection with the incident in which they absolve Al-Sadr of the crime, which he personally supervised in the Imam Ali Mosque square in Najaf and which also claimed the lives of cleric Haydar al-Kalidar and Maher al-Yaseri."

The source continued, "This file was like the price of Al-Sadr''s support for Ibrahim al-Jaafari in the elections and the reason for his support at present to remain the prime minister of the next government." Al-Sadr appeared standing next to Al-Jaafari last week in a television recording during the prime minister''s speech in Najaf. snip

The source asserted that "Iraqi National Accord Chairman Ahmad Chalabi also played a role in Al-Khoei''s assassination. During a visit to the Khoei Foundation in London, he promised the family of the victim that Al-Sadr would be arrested. A few days later, he promised at a meeting with Al-Sadr that the case would be closed." Chalabi was hoping for Al-Sadr''s strong support in the recent elections. In addition to his promise to close the case file, he provided Al-Sadr with a bullet-proof Mercedes car built to NATO specifications and costing $500, 000 US.

[TheBaldyMan]

1. no wonder Bushco were heartbroken these guys didn't win the election n/t

[NNN0LHI]

3. Sounds like these boys did "win" the "election"

Chalabi is going to be put in charge of the oil ministry. Who would have thought?

Don

[bryant69]

2. Is anything really bullet proof?

Wouldn't it be more accurate to say it's bullet tolerant? Because you get a big enough bullet moving along at a fast enough clip and it will go through anything.

Also if the government is giving out Mercedes I'd like one. Doesn't even have to be bullet tolerant.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[bemildred]

4. This seems to be a bunch of unattributed gossip. nt