Iraqi National Congress Member Fired (for visiting Israel)

[Khephra]

September 13, 2004, 1:12 PM EDT

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Ahmed Chalabi's Iraqi National Congress has fired one of its most senior members for visiting Israel, a spokesman for the group said Monday.

During an emergency meeting, the leadership of the former exile group decided to "fire Mithal al-Alusi from the Iraqi National Conference," spokesman Haidar al-Mousawi told The Associated Press.

Al-Alusi's visit to a terrorism conference angered his colleagues, who said they learned about the trip from the media. A part of Chalabi's inner circle, al-Alusi headed the de-Baathification Committee, which fired thousands of members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party from their jobs.

Israel's daily Haaretz quoted al-Alusi as saying that many elements in Iraq are interested in diplomatic ties with Israel.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-iraq-israel,0,6315042,print.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

[asjr]

1. Shrub democracy in action!

[rockymountaindem]

2. Yeah, everybody's coming together.

I'm sure some people around here will find a way to blame this on Israel, though.