12/19/2011US "closely" monitoring reports of arrest warrant for Iraq's VP
Washington, The US affirmed here Monday that it is "closely" monitoring reports of an arrest warrant that has been issued for Iraqi Vice President Tareq Al-Hashimi.
State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters, "we are closely monitoring these reports that an arrest warrant has been issued, in particular for vice president Al-Hashimi." She added "we are talking to all of the parties." "We've expressed our concern regarding these developments," she affirmed.
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She stressed that "we're urging all political sides in Iraq to work out their differences peaceably, politically, through dialogue, and certainly in a manner that is consistent with democratic political processes and international standards of rule of law."
Furthermore, Nuland remarked "we want to see in this next phase of Iraq's development, this sovereign phase, Iraqis work together within Iraq's democratic institutions to preserve national unity, to address the underlying political issues that form the basis of these kinds of tensions.
"We want to see Iraq's sovereignty protected and their democratic institutions protected," she noted.
An Iraqi judicial committee issued an arrest warrant for Al-Hashimi on terrorism-related charges.
Iraqi interior ministry said the Vice-President's bodyguards were interrogated and confessed of receiving orders from Al-Hashimi, his secretary and son-in-law for killing government officials, security officers and shiite pilgrims.
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