10 arrests over Iraq Ministry abductions

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, shown in Washington last year, is yet to comment on the abductions.NEW: Thousands protest in Falluja against arrests, call for release of those kidnappedJudicial spokesman says nine bodyguards and security chief have been arrestedIraqi finance minister says 150 staff and guards were taken from Baghdad officesMinister blames a "militia force" and holds Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki responsible

Baghdad (CNN) -- Nine bodyguards for Iraq's finance minister have been arrested, a spokesman for the Supreme Judicial Council told Iraqi state TV on Friday, a day after the minister said 150 members of his staff and guards had been kidnapped.

Spokesman Abdul Sattar al-Berqdar told Iraqiya State TV that the security commander of the finance minister's protection regiment had also been arrested two days ago, according a legal arrest warrant.

He told the channel that the security chief had admitted during interrogation that he committed "terrorist" acts.

Finance Minister Rafei al-Essawi said Thursday that he holds Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki responsible for the safety of the 150 people seized when "a militia force" raided his house, headquarters and ministry in Baghdad.

Read more: 150 kidnapped from Finance Ministry, minister says

Members of al-Essawi's staff and guards were among those kidnapped from the ministry Thursday, the finance minister said. He also said that his computers and documents were searched at his house and headquarters.

He said his security commander had been arrested Wednesday at a Baghdad checkpoint for unknown reasons and that the compound now had no security.

"My message to the prime minister: You are a man who does not respect partnership at all, a man who does not respect the law and the constitution, and I personally hold you fully responsible for the safety of the kidnapped people," al-Essawi said Thursday.

The finance minister called for the safe release of his staff and guards and for a no-confidence vote against al-Maliki in parliament.

Al-Essawi, who has a large base of Sunni support, said he had tried to reach al-Maliki, a Shiite, with no success.

Neither al-Maliki nor his spokesman could be reached for comment Thursday.

Thousands of people protested Friday against the arrest of the bodyguards in Falluja, a predominantly Sunni city west of Baghdad, and demanded the immediate release of those kidnapped.

They also chanted "Stop this charade," referring to what they believe are al-Maliki's actions.

The incident highlights a growing distrust between Sunni and Shiite politicians in Iraq, as well as concerns about the independence of Iraq's judiciary.

Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq, who is Sunni, addressed reporters Friday on behalf of the Iraqiya List, which won the largest number of seats in the March 2010 national elections.

"The Iraqiya List demands either to ensure the integrity and independence of the judiciary system in Iraq or it will withdraw completely from the Iraqi parliament and from the political process in general," al-Mutlaq said.

The cross-sectarian Iraqiya List, headed by former Shiite Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, garnered most of the Sunni Arab vote.

Sunnis largely boycotted the 2005 elections, leading to the emergence of a Shiite-led government. The move left the once-ruling minority disaffected, and that contributed to the bloody insurgency and sectarian warfare that gripped Iraq for years.

The apparent kidnappings follow the troubles of Iraq's fugitive Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi, who was sentenced to death in September, accused in the deaths of a lawyer and an army general.

Al-Hashimi, who is also Sunni and now lives in Istanbul, denies the charges and says the accusations are politically motivated.

Meanwhile, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani headed Thursday to Germany under the care of a specialized medical team for treatment, Kurdish lawmaker Mahmoud Othman said. Talabani's office said the president is suffering from hardened arteries, but Othman said he had suffered a stroke.

Read more: More than two dozen dead in Iraq violence

Read more: Iraqi president heads to Germany for medical treatment

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Iraq: 150 abducted from finance ministry

Iraqi Finance Minister says 150 staff and guards were taken from Baghdad officeOfficial blames a "militia force" and holds Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki responsibleIncident occurs amid the ill-health of the president, the conviction of the vice president

(CNN) -- Iraq's Finance Minister Rafei al-Essawi said Thursday that "a militia force" raided his house, headquarters and ministry in Baghdad and kidnapped 150 people, and he holds the nation's prime minister, Nuri al-Maliki, responsible for their safety.

Members of the al-Essawi's staff and guards were among those kidnapped from the ministry Thursday, the finance minister said. He also said that his computers and documents were searched at his house and headquarters. He said the head of security was arrested Wednesday at a Baghdad checkpoint for unknown reasons and that now the compound has no security.

"My message to the prime minister, you are a man who does not respect partnership at all, a man who does not respect the law and the constitution, and I personally hold you fully responsible for the safety of the kidnapped people" al-Essawi said.

Al-Essawi, who has a large base of Sunni support, said he has tried to reach al-Maliki, a Shiite, with no success.

"With a crisis like this of a minister of a key ministry, it's logical for (al-Maliki) to call me and to ask me about what happened," al-Essawi said. "Do you want me to believe that al-Maliki does not know about this action?"

Neither Al-Maliki nor his spokesman could be reached for comment Thursday.

The finance minister called for the safe release of his staff and guards and for a no-confidence vote against al-Maliki in parliament.

"I demand the release of all detainees and I demand an apology of this illegal shameful act." al-Essawi said. "I demand from the Iraqi Parliament to activate a no-confidence vote against a government that does not respect its institutions and its sovereignty"

The kidnappings come as Iraqi President Jalal Talabani heads to Germany under the care of a specialized medical team for treatment, Kurdish lawmaker Mahmoud Othman said. Talabani's office said the president is suffering from hardened arteries, but Othman said he had suffered a stroke.

The kidnappings also follow the troubles of Iraq's fugitive Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi, who was sentenced to death in September, accused in the deaths of a lawyer and an army general. Al-Hashimi, who is also Sunni and now lives in Istanbul, denies the charges and maintains the accusations were politically motivated.

Read more: More than 2 dozen dead in Iraq violence

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