Chalabi 'won't be arrested'

The Iraqi Interior Ministry said today it had “no intention” of arresting former Iraqi Governing Council member Ahmad Chalabi in the near future on counterfeiting charges, despite an arrest warrant issued by an Iraqi court.

The announcement came a day after Chalabi returned to Iraq from Iran to face the charges against him.

“There is no intention to carry out any measure in this regard until finalising the legal measures,” interior ministry spokesman Sabah Kadhim said, referring to the arrest warrant.

Kadhim said security forces were busy concentrating on putting down the violence wracking the country.

“We want to look after the interests of the country. These are only subsidiary things between a citizen and a legal body,” he added.

The court on Saturday ordered the arrest of Chalabi on counterfeiting charges and of his nephew Salem Chalabi on murder charges. Salem Chalabi heads the special tribunal in charge of trying ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.