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Top Iraqi official held in raid Top Iraqi official held in raid
(about 4 hours later)
US and Iraqi forces in Baghdad have arrested the deputy health minister during a raid at his offices.US and Iraqi forces in Baghdad have arrested the deputy health minister during a raid at his offices.
The minister, Hakim al-Zamili, is a key member of the political group led by radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr.The minister, Hakim al-Zamili, is a key member of the political group led by radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr.
He is accused of aiding Shia militiamen and using ambulances to move weapons, a ministry source told the BBC.He is accused of aiding Shia militiamen and using ambulances to move weapons, a ministry source told the BBC.
US and Iraqi troops have been trying to curb sectarian attacks in Iraq. The latest raid came as a car bomb killed at least 20 people south of Baghdad. The arrest came on the day Gen David Petraeus arrived in Baghdad to assume command of US forces in Iraq and oversee a push against militants.
The explosion struck a market in the predominantly Shia town of Aziziya, wounding dozens of people. Gen Petraeus will take over this weekend from Gen George Casey, who has been promoted to US Army chief of staff.
Ten people were also killed in a car bombing in a mainly Shia district in eastern Baghdad. As well as the raid on the health ministry, there were another series of sectarian attacks in Iraq.
A car bomb killed at least 20 people and wounded dozens in a market in the predominantly Shia town of Aziziya, south of Baghdad, while 10 people died in a car bombing in a mainly Shia district in the eastern of the capital.
Elsewhere, 14 people said to be from one Sunni family were reportedly killed by gunmen in Balad, north of Baghdad.
'Offices ransacked''Offices ransacked'
Iraqi officials say US and Iraqi troops broke down doors in the health ministry's offices in central Baghdad in their search for Mr Zamili.Iraqi officials say US and Iraqi troops broke down doors in the health ministry's offices in central Baghdad in their search for Mr Zamili.
HAKIM AL-ZAMILI Iraqi deputy health ministerMoqtada Sadr supporterAccused of corruption and funding Shia militiamen New pressure on Mehdi ArmyHAKIM AL-ZAMILI Iraqi deputy health ministerMoqtada Sadr supporterAccused of corruption and funding Shia militiamen New pressure on Mehdi Army
Shattered glass littered the floor, computers were overturned and a large white boot print was left on the office door, the Associated Press news agency reported.Shattered glass littered the floor, computers were overturned and a large white boot print was left on the office door, the Associated Press news agency reported.
The minister and some of his guards were arrested.The minister and some of his guards were arrested.
The US military said Mr Zamili was allegedly implicated in the deaths of a number of ministry officials.The US military said Mr Zamili was allegedly implicated in the deaths of a number of ministry officials.
It said he had also allegedly channelled millions of dollars to Mr Sadr's Mehdi Army militia.It said he had also allegedly channelled millions of dollars to Mr Sadr's Mehdi Army militia.
Mr Sadr's group accused the US of provocation and urged the government to take immediate action to free the official. Offices inside Iraq's health ministry were ransacked in the searchMr Sadr's group accused the US of provocation and urged the government to take immediate action to free the official.
"They are trying to drag the Sadrist movement to a confrontation. How else would arresting a deputy health minister without an arrest warrant be read," Abdel Mahdi al-Matiri, an official in Mr Sadr's movement, told Reuters news agency."They are trying to drag the Sadrist movement to a confrontation. How else would arresting a deputy health minister without an arrest warrant be read," Abdel Mahdi al-Matiri, an official in Mr Sadr's movement, told Reuters news agency.
The raid on the Iraqi health ministry comes more than two months after suspected Sunni insurgents tried to storm the building, triggering a fierce gun battle.The raid on the Iraqi health ministry comes more than two months after suspected Sunni insurgents tried to storm the building, triggering a fierce gun battle.
In other developments across Iraq:In other developments across Iraq:
  • A US air strike killed 13 suspected insurgents near Amiriya, west of Baghdad, the US military said
  • A US air strike killed 13 suspected insurgents near Amiriya, west of Baghdad, the US military said
  • Four Iraqi policemen and a civilian were killed during an attack on a patrol in Baquba, north of Baghdad
  • Four Iraqi policemen and a civilian were killed during an attack on a patrol in Baquba, north of Baghdad
  • Four US marines died from wounds sustained during fighting in Falluja on Wednesday, the US military said
  • Four US marines died from wounds sustained during fighting in Falluja on Wednesday, the US military said
  • The US was investigating media reports that insurgents brought down a civilian helicopter between Hilla and Baghdad on 31 January, AP said
    • DelayDelay
    US and Iraqi forces have announced a major offensive in the Baghdad area, aimed at ending spiralling violence by Sunni and Shia militants.US and Iraqi forces have announced a major offensive in the Baghdad area, aimed at ending spiralling violence by Sunni and Shia militants.
    The BBC's Jane Peel in Baghdad says that in the past some members of Iraq's governing Iraqi coalition have provided militias with protection.The BBC's Jane Peel in Baghdad says that in the past some members of Iraq's governing Iraqi coalition have provided militias with protection.
    Last month the US military said operations had led to 16 senior members of the Mehdi Army being detained and one commander being killed.Last month the US military said operations had led to 16 senior members of the Mehdi Army being detained and one commander being killed.
    On Wednesday Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki urged his military commanders to speed up preparations for the new security measures in Baghdad.On Wednesday Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki urged his military commanders to speed up preparations for the new security measures in Baghdad.
    He said a delay in implementing the US-backed plan had started to give a negative message.He said a delay in implementing the US-backed plan had started to give a negative message.