Iraq

Army denies coup plot claims

Article published on the 2008-12-18 Latest update 2008-12-19 13:18 TU

Iraqi soldiers carry recovered rockets in Haswa, south of Baghdad
(Photo: Reuters)

The Iraqi army has denied reports that 50 Interior Ministry officials were arrested for plotting a coup. "The office of the commanding general of the armed forces announces the arrest of 24 officers from the ministries of interior and defence who have nothing to do with attempted coup," said General Qasem Atta.

Earlier reports from the AFP news agency said that a special security unit had reportedly arrested about 50 officials at Iraq's Interior Ministry for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government.

Security officers had said that they were linked to a secret group called Al-Awda (The Return) which aims to bring Saddam Hussein's Baath Party back to power.

But officials have now denied this.

Al-Awda first surfaced in 2003, three months after the US-led invasion that ousted Saddam. It is said to link former members of the Baath Party, the old Republican Guard and security services.

Thursday's New York Times cited a top Interior Ministry official saying that the Al-Awda-linked officials paid bribes to officers to recruit them and that large sums of money were found in the raids.

Saddam's regime was dominated by Sunni-Muslims, a minority compared to the Shia-Muslims who dominate the current parliament and government.

Maliki's critics have accused him of arresting political opponents to consolidate power ahead of provincial elections next January.

Earlier this year parliament lifted a ban on former Baath members being employed by the government. It had been introduced by the US adminstration after the invasion. 

Earlier reports that Interior Ministry chief General Ahmad Abul Raghif was among those arrested have since been denied.