Ahmad Chalabi returns back to Iraq, party refuses to evacuate offices

Chairman of the Iraqi national Congress Ahmad Chalabi yesterday returned back to Iraq despite the warrant of arrest issued against him under the charge of money counterfeiting, while his party refused an order issued by the prime minister Eyad Allawi to evacuate its offices in Baghdad.

The official at the National Congress, Mithal al-Allousi, said "he ( Ahmad Chalabi) returned back to his people and is trying to get some rest before assuming his political duties and trying to help the government and halting violence." Earlier in the day, Allousi said that Allawi asked Chalabi to stay outside Iraq so as the prime minister will be able to ensure protection to him upon his return back.

It is known that Chalabi's relations with Allawi is very complicated. Once they were allies and once they were foes. The First used to be supported by the US defense department, while the second is protected by the CIA.

The Iraqi judge Zuheir al-Maliki who issued the warrant of arrest against Chalabi and his nephew Salem Chalabi on Saturday said that the mission of implementing the memorandum and arrest is decided by the Iraqi police and the ministry of the interior who announced two days earlier that Chalabi will be detained upon his arrival in Iraq saying "I am not responsible for his detention, the Iraqi police has to deal with him."

Allousi said that the "matters" related to a conspiracy fabricated by Iraqis, Jordan, the CIA and other sides in order to prevent Iraq from progressing towards Democracy and to eliminate liberal intellectuals." Allousi indicated that the party also received instructions to evacuate its headquarters also in al-Musil.