- Today the Iraqi police service formally arrested Mustafa al-Yacoubi, this pursuant to a valid arrest warrant issued by an Iraqi judge. Mr. al-Yacoubi was arrested in connection with the brutal murder of Ayatollah As Seyed Ala-Majid al-Khoei (sp), who was repeatedly stabbed and shot to death last April in front of one of the world’s holiest shrines.
Mr. Yacoubi has been transferred to Iraqi police custody, where he is held at an Iraqi detention facility and will be tried by Iraqi judges in Iraqi courts under Iraqi law. Today the Iraqi investigative judge held his first meeting with Mr. Yacoubi to ensure that he fully understands the charges against him and he fully understands his rights. The arrest and trial are about justice and law and order in Iraq. The Iraqi people want elections, not mob violence, to determine who will govern Iraq.
- In Baghdad yesterday there were six demonstrations in support of Muqtada al-Sadr and demonstrating against the detention of Mustafa Yacoubi. In Sadr City, three police stations came under attack, but all have been returned to IPS control.
- n An Najaf, a large crowd gathered midday Sunday to show support for Sadr and Yacoubi, and the demonstration turned violent in the afternoon, when elements of the Mahdi Army attacked coalition facilities on the edge of the city.
- In An Nasiriyah, a violent demonstration of approximately 200 Mahdi Army personnel attempted to secure bridges entering the city. The only hostile action against coalition forces was a rocket grenade fired at a CPA building, which missed. The governor defused the incident, and the demonstration ended peacefully.
- In al-Amarah, a crowd of about 2,000 built up peacefully during Sunday afternoon. At approximately 1700 an explosive device was thrown at coalition forces that led to violence. Order was reestablished later in the evening.
- In Basra, there were peaceful demonstrations by about 1,500 Sadr supporters in a number of different locations. There were some RPG attacks after the crowds dispersed, without effect on coalition forces.
- In al Kut, a crowd of 1,000 Sadr supporters protesting the detention of Mustafa Yacoubi were dispersed without incident.
- Today those cities are relatively quiet. There have been a number of demonstrations in Baghdad, to include a peaceful demonstration outside the Al Hurra Police Station in western Baghdad and a demonstration in the vicinity of the Sadr bureau in Sadr City. There have also been demonstrations in An Najaf, Basra and al Kut with no reported violence.
There are reports of a takeover of a contractor building in An Nasiriyah by Sadr followers as well as other reports of a takeover of an abandoned building in Basra by approximately 200 Mahdi Army members. In both cases there is no violence reported, and Iraqi police service and coalition forces are monitoring the situation.
- Yeah, there were attack helicopters, Apache helicopters used today in Baghdad. It is my understanding that one helicopter was fired upon by small-arms fire, approximately five to six rounds that hit, one round which may have hit the cockpit without injury to any of the pilots. Acting within the limits and the inherent right of self-defense, the helicopter fired back with approximately 100 or so rounds of 20-millimeter. But no rockets were fired and no anti-tank missiles were fired.
- An Iraqi judge has issued an arrest warrant for Muqtada al Sadr, and that is based on evidence that connects Muqtada al Sadr to the brutal murder of Mr. al-Khoei, a murder in which Mr. al-Khoei was repeatedly stabbed and shot to death in front of the world’s -- in front of one of the world’s holiest shrines.
- The arrests -- there were originally 12 arrests made shortly after the murder of Mr. al-Khoei. And there was a view and there is a view today in Iraq that when these cases come to trial, in the effort to conserve Iraq’s scarce judicial resources, that as many of the individuals involved in a particular case be tried at once. The initial 12 individuals were arrested. Subsequently after a meticulous investigation, additional warrants were filed. There were additional individuals they intended to pursue. The initial 12 were found early on and detained. It was more difficult to target some of the other individuals.
Recently they have begun -- the Iraqi judge, the investigative judge has begun to prepare the case for trial, about a month of preparation. And in light of the fact that the case was about to go to trial, he thought it important to take another shot at trying to gather up some of the other individuals that had been involved and for whom there were warrants. Mr. Yacoubi falls into that category, and they detained him.
- And a separate question: I read an AFP report that said the ICDC turned on American troops in this neighborhood where the Apache fired today. Have you heard anything about that?
GEN. KIMMITT: I have heard nothing about the second report. It would -- I think it would fall in line with some of the other reports that we’ve heard over the last couple of days that have proven not to be correct.
- The actions of the Mahdi Army over the past 48 hours is clearly inconsistent with a safe and secure environment, and clearly inconsistent with the security of the people of Iraq. And we will take action, as and when necessary, to maintain a safe and secure environment in Iraq. Individuals who create violence, who incite violence, who execute violence against persons inside of Iraq will be hunted down and captured or killed. It is that simple.
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