U.S. apologizes for detention of Iraqi lawmaker's son
{{date|February 23, 2007}}
{{Article-audiobrief|filename=240207 2100 newsbrief.ogg|commonsurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/240207_2100_newsbrief.ogg|align=right}}
[[File:Sayyed Abdul Aziz al-Hakim 2006-Dec-04.jpg|right|thumb|250px|{{w|Abdul Aziz al-Hakim}} is the leader of the Shiite party {{w|Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq}} (SCIRI).]]

The [[United States|U.S.]] ambassador to [[Iraq]], {{w|Zalmay Khalilzad}}, apologized today to {{w|Abdul Aziz al-Hakim}}, leader of the largest political party in the {{w|Iraqi Council of Representatives}}, for the detention of his son.

"I am sorry about the arrest.We don't know the circumstances of the arrest and we are investigating ... but he is being released," the U.S. ambassador said.

{{w|Ammar al-Hakim}}, the son of Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, is a cleric with an important position in his father's political movement. He and his six bodyguards were detained by U.S. troops near the border, while crossing into Iraq from [[Iran]]. All seven were released within 12 hours. A U.S. military spokesman said more information would be released "as it becomes available".

A condemnation of the detention was delivered to the U.S. Department of State by al-Hakim's party {{w|Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq|SCIRI}}. The party suggested on affiliated TV stations that protesters might be sent out onto the streets to show opposition to the arrest.

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/24/AR2007022400227.html
|title=Iraqis protest arrest of Shi'ite leader's son
|author=Mussab Al-Khairalla (Reuters)
|pub=Washington Post
|date=February 24, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/02/23/iraq.main/index.html
|title= U.S. apologizes for arrest of relative of Shiite politician
|author=
|pub=CNN.com
|date=February 23, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6391059.stm
|title=US troops release Iraq official
|author=
|pub=BBC News
|date=February 23, 2007}}

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[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Iraq]]
[[Category:Iran]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Iraq War]]
Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI).

The U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, leader of the largest political party in the , for the detention of his son.

"I am sorry about the arrest.We don't know the circumstances of the arrest and we are investigating ... but he is being released," the U.S. ambassador said.

, the son of Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, is a cleric with an important position in his father's political movement. He and his six bodyguards were detained by U.S. troops near the border, while crossing into Iraq from Iran. All seven were released within 12 hours. A U.S. military spokesman said more information would be released "as it becomes available".

A condemnation of the detention was delivered to the U.S. Department of State by al-Hakim's party SCIRI. The party suggested on affiliated TV stations that protesters might be sent out onto the streets to show opposition to the arrest.
United States Iraq Iran Politics and conflicts Iraq War