Talabani: U.S. soldiers in Hakim arrest should be 'disciplined'

Thousands marched yesterday in protest of the arrest

BAGHDAD, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Iraq's president said on Saturday U.S. soldiers responsible for briefly detaining the son of Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, one of Iraq's most powerful Shi'ite leaders, should be disciplined.

U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said within hours he was sorry for the detention on Friday of Ammar al-Hakim, who said he was handcuffed, blindfolded and pushed roughly by U.S. guards.

The U.S. military said on Saturday he was held because his guards were acting suspiciously in an area near the Iranian border where smuggling has happened before. It said he was quickly released and treated with respect.

"The president of Iraq, Jalal Talabani, expressed his sorrow for the offence to which al-Hakim was exposed and called for those responsible to be held accountable," a statement from the president's office said.

"(Talabani) noted that he was treated in an uncivil manner and inappropriately and demanded that U.S. authorities hold accountable those who harmed him and give guarantees such unjustifiable actions will not be repeated with other politicians and national figures," the statement said.

Read the rest at Reuters/Alternet

Related Link:
Thousands protest in Najaf against arrest of Hakim's son

Related Link:
Furor over arrest of al-Hakim's son

Related Link:
Son of al-Hakim freed, but 'bodyguards' still in custody; U.S. apologizes for arrest

Related Link:
Report: Son of Shi'ite leader al-Hakim arrested on return from Iran

Related Link:
Military: 'Rogue elements' of Shi'ite militias behind use of Iranian EFPs

Related Link:
U.S.-Iraqi forces raid Baghdad's major mosque for 'kidnapping, torture and murder activities'

Related Link:
al-Hakim visits Tehran, calls for U.S.-Iran talks on Iraq

Related Link:
al-Hakim: U.S. arrest of Iranians an 'attack on Iraq's sovereignity'

Related Link:
al-Hakim meets Bush, calls for U.S. military to do more, rejects regional solution