Americans detain Shiite cleric in flashpoint Iraqi town

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1504&ncid=1504&e=1&u=/afp/20030810/ts_afp/iraq_us_shiites_arrest_030810083247

BAQUBA, Iraq (AFP) - A leading Shiite cleric was arrested overnight by American troops in the flashpoint town of Baquba northwest of Baghdad, the man's son told AFP.

US soldiers picked up at midnight Ali Abdul Karim al-Madani, 48, the highest-ranking Shiite cleric in the Dyala region who had previously been jailed from July 2-4, his son Hasan Abdul Halim al-Madani told AFP Sunday.

Madani, whose brief arrest last month sparked demonstrations that left one man dead in a mysterious explosion, was led away by 30 US soldiers, who came in five Humvee vehicles, backed up by two tanks and a transport truck.

Twelve others were arrested along with him, including two bodyguards, the cleric's nephew Haider Abdul Halim told AFP.

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