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Baghdad: An Iraqi university president and a top local official in a restive province north of Baghdad are suspected of giving weapons and government cars to Al Qaida in Iraq insurgents, according to arrest reports obtained on Wednesday.
The leak of the reports appeared to be aimed, in part, at countering claims by Sunni politicians that Shiite-led security forces arrested the two - both Sunnis - on political grounds in Diyala province.
The arrests of Nazar Al Khafaji, University of Diyala president, and Hussain Al Zubaidi, head of the provincial council's security committee, took place last week.
Al Khafaji was led from his home with a hood over his head and security forces seized three computers.
According to excerpts from the arrest reports by the anti-terrorism squad involved in the case, the two are suspected of aiding Al Qaida insurgents involved in sectarian killings. The reports say more than 20 Diyala residents complained about Al Khafaji and Al Zubaidi.
The high-profile arrests prompted angry complaints by Sunni leaders, and the 41-member provincial council suspended work last week. The council chief, Ebrahim Bajilan, said yesterday that the council members would not return to work until the detainees are released.
Diyala is one of the country's remaining insurgent strongholds and the scene of much of the recent violence in Iraq.
In other developments, the US military said American troops killed three suspected militants in Diyala yesterday, including two who had explosives strapped to their bodies.
The incident, near the town of Jalula, began when several men ran from a building as US forces approached. Two were killed in by US forces and a third blew himself up, the military said.
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