Iraq Will Arrest Chalabi, Minister Says

Iraqi authorities will arrest Iraqi National Congress party leader Ahmad Chalabi after the Eid al-Adha holiday, interim Defense Minister Hazem Shaalan said Friday.

Shaalan’s statement followed allegations by Chalabi that the defense minister had shifted $500 million out of the ministry. That led to charges and countercharges by the two Shiite politicians, who are running for parliament on separate tickets in the Jan. 30 national election.

“We will arrest him and turn him over to the Interpol,” Shaalan told Al Jazeera television. “We will arrest him based on facts. He wanted to tarnish the image of the Defense Ministry.... He wanted to tarnish the reputation of the defense minister because he is frank and clear. One of those who want to commit crimes against the Iraqi people is Ahmad Chalabi.”

Chalabi, a cousin and rival of interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, could not be reached for comment.

Last year, a judge issued a warrant for Chalabi’s arrest for allegedly counterfeiting money, but the charges were dropped.

Al Jazeera quoted Shaalan as saying Chalabi would be turned over to Interpol because of his 1992 conviction in absentia by a Jordanian court for embezzling funds from Jordan’s Petra bank, which collapsed in 1989.

Chalabi, who founded the bank, denies wrongdoing and says the charges were fabricated because he opposed then-Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.