Alawi's office denies arrest claims

The Iraqi leader, Ayad Alawi’s office has denied what some media has reported as "malicious" with regards to his alleged role behind the arrest of the Shi’a leader Mohammad Al-Masri by Egyptian intelligence in Egypt 2007. A statement issued by Alawi's office confirmed that this story is completely untrue, and stated that when Dr. Ayad Alawi meets with the heads of governments and leaders he does not talk about details and names, but about frameworks, contexts, and important issues. The statement pointed out the Alawi did not know the basis of the arrest, and had never heard the name of the person in question before. It also revealed that Allawi hails from a well-known Iraqi Shiite family. The statement issued by Alawi’s office strongly criticized the “Al-Sumaria News” site, owned by businessman Shafiq, for publishing false information with regards to the arrest. Furthermore, it indicated the political misconduct by people who had more than once tried to undermine Alawi, a national symbol who they state has fraternal and honorable links with all Arab countries, and the Egyptian people in particular. The statement blames political bankruptcy, and criticizes the forces of regional intelligence that pushed matters to be declared that do not exist. The statement added that this is not the first time that “Al-Sumaria News” has reported false news against Iraq and its figureheads, and against Ayad Alawi, underlining that this goes against the professional and free media. In the statement it is stressed that the office will reserve the right to sue the agency for the fabrications and the lies that it published. Alawi's office also stressed that “Al-Sumaria News” should ask about the nature of such biased information before publication, emphasizing that Iraq is aware that some intelligence sides want there to be evil in Iraq, and have repeated fabricated news against national Iraqi and Arab symbols.