Khalilzad: Iran finances, trains Shiite militias

The American ambassador in Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad accused Iran of financing and training Shiite militias in Iraq.

He added that the militias constitute a problem similar to that of the armed groups in the country and should be controlled, as he alleged.

This came at a time when the American forces raised the building of the ministry of interior and seized for a while 10 policemen who were inside the building after finding 17 Sudanese prisoners in the place, according to the Iraqi government.

Former president Mohammad Khatami said in Manama on Monday that US anti-Iran scenario on interference in Iraqi affairs is unfounded and that the occupation forces are responsible for providing Iraqi people with security, adding that the US is making the claim in an attempt to create animosity between Iran and its neighboring Arab governments.

In another development, a source in the Iraqi ministry of interior said that one officer in the Iraqi army was detained over accusations of taking part in the acts of assassination in Baqouba, northeast of Baghdad. Arkan al-Bawi whose brother runs Deyali police center was detained on charge of working in Baqouba assassination team.