Chalabi Returns To Iraq

[Oilwellian]

Published: August 12, 2004

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Aug. 11 - Under a veil of secrecy and threat of arrest, the embattled former exile Ahmad Chalabi swept back into Iraq on Wednesday night, vowing to face criminal charges against him in court. And in a fresh sign that Mr. Chalabi is facing a confrontation with the new Iraqi government, the Iraqi police forced him from his state-owned offices.

Mr. Chalabi crossed into Iraq from Iran shortly after 3 p.m., and drove with a convoy of cars toward Baghdad, said his spokesman, Haidar Musawi. An Iraqi judge ordered Mr. Chalabi and his nephew, Salem Chalabi, arrested on criminal charges over the weekend.

(most interesting part)

Despite the day's troubles, there were signs that Mr. Chalabi might be enjoying the new attention. In an appeal to poor Shiites, his staff printed posters with his face and the words, "We'll be back to stop the massacre at Najaf," the city where the rebel Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr has been under siege by American and Iraqi forces since last week.

As for Mr. Chalabi's relationship with Mr. Sadr, Mr. Musawi said that the two men "are not that close. Yet."


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/12/international/middleeast/12chalabi.html?pagewanted=all&position=

[LauraK]

1. This is about the fourth time he's returned in the last two days.

Must be addicted to frequent flyer miles.

[mom cat]

2. What an opportunist!..