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Iraq's vice presidential nominee Tareq Al Hashemi speaks at a news conference in Baghdad, in this file picture taken on February 28, 2011. Global police body Interpol has called for help in arresting fugitive Iraqi Vice President Tareq Al Hashemi on suspicion of planning and funding attacks in Iraq. (Reuters)
Interpol called for the arrest of fugitive Iraqi Vice-President Tareq Al Hashemi at the request of Iraqi authorities on Tuesday on suspicion of planning attacks.
Hashemi, a top politician with the Iraqiya block, fled Baghdad in December when the government accused him of running death squads, sparking a dispute that risked upsetting the country's delicate power-sharing agreement.
The vice-president, who is thought to be in Istanbul, has denied he was involved in murdering six judges and other officials. He says the charges are politically motivated and has refused to stand trial in Baghdad.
"From the beginning we said that Hashemi's case was politicised and the Interpol memo is a part of this politicisation," said Ahmed Al Massari, a senior Iraqiya's lawmaker.
"This is an escalation... while some Iraqi political blocs are trying to meet to solve problems, those which head the government are creating problems," he said.
"At the request of Iraqi authorities, Interpol has published a Red Notice for Vice-President Tareq Al Hashemi on suspicion of guiding and financing terrorist attacks in the country," Interpol said in a statement.
The Red Notice did not amount to an international arrest warrant, but was a call on forces in its 190 member countries to help locate Al Hashemi and bring him to justice.
Turkey's Prime Minister, Tayyip Erdogan, told a news conference in Rome while on a trip to Italy that he believed Hashemi would return to Iraq after medical treatment.
"Hashemi continues with his initiatives regarding his legal problems," Erdogan said. "We gave him all kinds support on this issue and we will continue to do so."
MURDER CHARGES
Interpol said the notice would restrict Hashemi's ability to travel and cross borders.
Hashemi's trial was postponed a week ago after his lawyers argued that it should be held in a special court for political figures, and it is scheduled to resume on Thursday.
The trial focuses on three murders involving the assassination of three government officials. Hashemi and his bodyguards are also charged with the murders of six judges.
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