Iraq denies holding seven Iranian dissidents
Group charges that Iraqi government is blocking an investigation into an attack that killed 52 of its members
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq is denying holding seven missing members of an Iranian dissident group following a deadly attack on its compound north of Baghdad earlier this month.
The group accuses Iraq of detaining the Camp Ashraf residents and of planning to transfer them to Iran against their will.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki denied holding the seven on his official website Friday. His statement also reiterated officials’ claims that Iraqi forces were not behind the Sept. 1 shooting at the camp that killed 52 Mujahedeen-e-Khalq members.
Iraq has pledged to investigate the killings. It is impatient with efforts to resettle more than 2,800 former camp residents abroad.
Group spokesman Shahriar Kia blasted al-Maliki’s statement as a “ridiculous claim” and charged that the government is blocking an investigation into the killings.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.