Spain to refuse hand over of Iraqi cleric

[PaDUer]

This is going to be interesting.

Last Update: Tuesday, May 11, 2004. 11:20am (AEST)

Spanish forces in Iraq have refused a request, apparently from the United States, to hand over "dead or alive" an Iraqi religious leader if they encountered him, according to Defence Minister Jose Bono.
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"The occupying countries can engage in offensive actions. But coalition countries like Spain cannot participate in offensive actions and therefore we said categorically that we were not prepared to hand over dead or alive - as we were asked to do at one point - a certain religious leader," Mr Bono was quoted as saying by Europa Press news agency.
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Sadr's stronghold is in the Shiite holy city of Najaf, south of Baghdad, where Spanish forces were present until it recently concentrated troops in Diwaniya prior to departure.
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He said US forces would take control of the remaining Spanish base in Diwaniya by May 17 and said all Spanish troops were likely to be out of Iraq before May 27.

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http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1105683.htm