Arresting trade minister internal affair – British embassy

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The British embassy in Baghdad said on Tuesday that it did not issue any comment on arresting the former trade minister, Abdulfalah al-Sudani, noting that the case is an Iraqi internal affair. “Some mass media quoted news about an alleged statement issued from the British Foreign Office calling for the release of al-Sudani,” said a statement from the British embassy received by IraqiNews.com news agency. “Neither the Foreign Office nor the British embassy in Baghdad issued any statement concerning arresting Abdulfalah al-Sudani,” the statement added. On May 31, Sudani, a 62-year-old dual British Iraqi national, was put in the Samawa Central Prison after he had been brought from Baghdad under police escort. A source from Baghdad International Airport said that Sudani was arrested upon his arrival at the airport after his plane had been ordered to turn around. On its way to the United Arab Emirates , a plane carrying the minister has been returned to Baghdad less than one and a half hours after taking off from the airport. A few days ago, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki accepted Sudani’s resignation, which was tendered on May 14. Sudani was questioned by the Parliament for two days on charges of “administrative and financial corruption.” SH (S)/SR 1