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| Iraq MP Ahmed al-Awlani arrested in deadly Ramadi raid | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Iraqi forces have arrested an MP, killing his brother and five of his guards during a raid on his home in the western city of Ramadi. | Iraqi forces have arrested an MP, killing his brother and five of his guards during a raid on his home in the western city of Ramadi. |
| Ahmed al-Awlani, a member of the Sunni community, had backed protests against the mainly Shia government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and was reportedly wanted on terrorism charges. | Ahmed al-Awlani, a member of the Sunni community, had backed protests against the mainly Shia government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and was reportedly wanted on terrorism charges. |
| Police said Mr Awlani's guards opened fire as officers arrived to detain him. | Police said Mr Awlani's guards opened fire as officers arrived to detain him. |
| Another 18 people were wounded in the ensuing skirmish, an official said. | Another 18 people were wounded in the ensuing skirmish, an official said. |
| "Security forces attacked the residence of MP Ahmed al-Alwani in central Ramadi to arrest him this morning, sparking a battle with his guards with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades," a police major told the AFP news agency. | |
| "Five of Alwani's guards and his brother were killed and eight others wounded, while 10 security forces members were also wounded," the major said. | "Five of Alwani's guards and his brother were killed and eight others wounded, while 10 security forces members were also wounded," the major said. |
| The security forces had also been hoping to arrest Mr Awlani's brother, Ali, authorities said. | The security forces had also been hoping to arrest Mr Awlani's brother, Ali, authorities said. |
| Unconfirmed reports suggest that a sister of the MP - a member of the Sunni-backed Iraqiya bloc - was also among those killed in the raid. | Unconfirmed reports suggest that a sister of the MP - a member of the Sunni-backed Iraqiya bloc - was also among those killed in the raid. |
| Protest camp | Protest camp |
| The reasons for Mr Alwani's arrest were not immediately clear. The Associated Press news agency said he was wanted on terrorism charges. | |
| He has also been a prominent supporter of a group of activists camped on a highway near Ramadi protesting against the perceived marginalisation and persecution of Iraqi Sunnis by the Shia-dominated government. | He has also been a prominent supporter of a group of activists camped on a highway near Ramadi protesting against the perceived marginalisation and persecution of Iraqi Sunnis by the Shia-dominated government. |
| Prime Minister Maliki has reportedly threatened to shut down the camp, saying it has become a headquarters of al-Qaeda. | Prime Minister Maliki has reportedly threatened to shut down the camp, saying it has become a headquarters of al-Qaeda. |
| AFP quoted parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi, a Sunni, as strongly criticising the arrest, describing it as "treading on the core of the Iraqi constitution and a clear violation of its articles". | AFP quoted parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi, a Sunni, as strongly criticising the arrest, describing it as "treading on the core of the Iraqi constitution and a clear violation of its articles". |
| In a statement, Mr Nujaifi insisted MPs had legal immunity and that he was sending a parliamentary delegation to Anbar province to investigate the case. | In a statement, Mr Nujaifi insisted MPs had legal immunity and that he was sending a parliamentary delegation to Anbar province to investigate the case. |
| However, the constitution says MPs may be arrested without parliament waiving immunity if they are caught committing a serious crime. | However, the constitution says MPs may be arrested without parliament waiving immunity if they are caught committing a serious crime. |
| Mr Alwani's arrest comes as Iraq remains in the grip of sectarian fighting which has made this the deadliest year since 2008. | Mr Alwani's arrest comes as Iraq remains in the grip of sectarian fighting which has made this the deadliest year since 2008. |
| More than 8,000 people have been killed since January, many of them in fighting between Sunni and Shia Muslims. | More than 8,000 people have been killed since January, many of them in fighting between Sunni and Shia Muslims. |
| The UN has called on Iraq's political leaders to co-operate to end the bloodshed, which has escalated since an army raid on a Sunni Arab anti-government protest camp near the northern town of Hawija in April 2013 killed dozens. | The UN has called on Iraq's political leaders to co-operate to end the bloodshed, which has escalated since an army raid on a Sunni Arab anti-government protest camp near the northern town of Hawija in April 2013 killed dozens. |
| The government has made some concessions in an effort to placate Sunnis, including freeing some prisoners and raising the salaries of Sahwa militiamen fighting al-Qaeda, but the violence has not abated. | The government has made some concessions in an effort to placate Sunnis, including freeing some prisoners and raising the salaries of Sahwa militiamen fighting al-Qaeda, but the violence has not abated. |