Iraqi deputy health minister arrested

US-backed Iraqi troops have engaged in a major security sweep to break illegal militias’ hold on Baghdad, arresting the Iraq health ministry’s second-highest official.

The US military accused Hakim al-Zamili, the deputy of the health ministry, of ordering the killing of political opponents and funnelling millions of dollars to rogue Shiite militias.

“Special Iraqi Army Forces captured a senior ministry of health official today who is suspected of being a central figure in alleged corruption and rogue Jaysh Al-Mahdi infiltration of the ministry,” a US statement said yesterday.