Arbil will not hand over Hashimi, Kurdish Diwan

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Arbil will not hand over vice-president Tariq al-Hashimi and is ready to provide just trial to him if Iraqi judicial system permits, as stated by head of the Kurdish Diwan to Al-Sharq al-Awsat daily. Foad Hussein added that “Hashimi question is not political, but legal to be determiner by Iraqi law, and the Kurdish region is ready to cooperate in this field”. On possibility of handing over Hashimi to Baghdad , he added “Hashimi is a suspect not convicted, which makes a great difference, so handing him over is not on the thought”. “Hashimi, in his capacity as vice-president,  came to Arbil to meet Barzani, so he is a guest now on the Kurdish region presidency and has the right to stay as he wishes and according to his circumstances”, Hussein elaborated . Yesterday, Hashimi demanded, in his first appearance following the accusations, that his case to be transferred to Kurdistan for investigation, stressing that the cause of this case is foreign agenda following the announcement of some provinces to be changed into regions.   Iraqi Interior Ministry announced last Monday the issuance of an arrest warrant against Hashimi, while the Iraqiya TV broadcasted the confessions of Hashimi’s bodyguards charging him with terrorist acts in 2009.    Iraqiya bloc, headed by Iyad Alawi, announced it will reject the order of the Higher Judicial Council, as well as the confessions which were done under torture, according to local media. 876