Turkey has granted a resident permit to fugitive Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi in order to allow him to remain legally in the country after the vice president’s temporary visa expires. Hashemi stands accused of running death squads in Iraq but claims the charges are false and politically motivated. After first taking refuge in Iraqi Kurdistan, Hashemi then fled to Turkey to avoid what he feels is a biased court system.
Meanwhile, at least five Iraqis were killed an eight more wounded.
The number of casualties in a bus bombing in Muqdadiya yesterday rose by two dead and five wounded. The new total is five dead and 15 wounded.
Two brothers were gunned down in Kirkuk. A sticky bomb wounded a police major.
In Kirkuk, the body of a murdered border guard was found.
An I.E.D. wounded two policemen in Ramadi.
In Baghdad, no casualties were reported when gunmen in military uniforms looted a vehicle.
Police were able to foil a suicide bomber in Baquba.
