Iraq’s top court gave an unbinding opinion on Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi’s terrorism charges. Meanwhile, Iranian dissidents living in Camp Ashraf are voluntarily relocating to Camp Liberty. Also, during a scan in Falluja, radioactive materials were found. At least 12 Iraqis were killed and nine more were wounded in new violence.
The Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council gave its assessment of the case against Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi. Although their report is not legally binding, the nine-member panel said they tied about 150 cases of terrorism to the vice president or his staff. The alleged attacks occurred from 2005 through 2011. Because the council did not present any evidence, it is unclear where they obtained the information or how accurate it is.
In December, an arrest warrant was drawn out, and Hashemi fled to Kurdistan where he is a guest of President Jalal Talabani. The vice president has consistently denied these charges, which he believes were fabricated by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to discredit the political rival. Hashemi has also publicly asked why — since the prime minister has claimed to know about the attacks all along —did he wait until U.S. troops left Iraq in December to bring up these charges. The vice president would like a trial to take place in a neutral area where Maliki cannot influence the judiciary.
Radioactive materials were discovered in Falluja, where there has been an increase in cancer and birth defects. The materials were dispersed by U.S. forces in 2004.
The first 400 Iranian refugees are voluntarily relocating from Camp Ashraf to Camp Liberty. The move came after years of harassment on the part of the Iraqi government and weeks of intense discussions involving the United Nations. The move is supposed to be temporary. The refugees will eventually relocate abroad.
Three policemen were killed and two others were wounded during an I.E.D. attack in Mosul. A separate attack left three more policemen dead.
An attack against an Ain al-Baydha checkpoint left three soldiers dead and one more wounded.
A bomb in Gatoun killed a civilian.
Six people were wounded during two market blasts in Ramadi.
A security raid in Nassiriya left two dead.
A medical worker was kidnapped in Kirkuk.
A house in Hammam al-Ali was destroyed, but no casualties were reported.
