U.S. apologizes for detention of Iraqi lawmaker's son

February 23, 2007



The U.S. ambassador to Iraq,, apologized today to , leader of the largest political party in the , for the detention of his son.

"I am sorry about the arrest.We don't know the circumstances of the arrest and we are investigating ... but he is being released," the U.S. ambassador said.

, the son of Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, is a cleric with an important position in his father's political movement. He and his six bodyguards were detained by U.S. troops near the border, while crossing into Iraq from Iran. All seven were released within 12 hours. A U.S. military spokesman said more information would be released "as it becomes available".

A condemnation of the detention was delivered to the U.S. Department of State by al-Hakim's party. The party suggested on affiliated TV stations that protesters might be sent out onto the streets to show opposition to the arrest.