IRAQ: US TROOPS SEARCH OFFICE OF MOHAMMED MOHSEN ZUBADI , SELF PROCLAIMED MAYOR OF BAGHDAD CURRENTLY UNDER ARREST

Record ID: 230558

  • Title: IRAQ: US TROOPS SEARCH OFFICE OF MOHAMMED MOHSEN ZUBADI , SELF PROCLAIMED MAYOR OF BAGHDAD CURRENTLY UNDER ARREST
  • Date: 28th April 2003
  • Summary: (W5) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (APRIL 28, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. SMV U.S. ARMY SOLDIER OUTSIDE MOHAMMED MOHSEN ZUBAIDI'S ROOM 0.03 2. VARIOUS OF U.S. ARMY SOLDIERS OUTSIDE ZUBAIDI'S OFFICES (3 SHOTS) 0.15 3. SLV SOLDIERS ENTERING ZUBAIDI'S OFFICE 0.25 4. SMV U.S. ARMY TELLING JOURNALISTS TO LEAVE 0.29 6. SMV U.S. SOLDIERS WALKING INTO ZUBAIDI'S OFFICE WITH BAG 0.36 7. SMV U.S TROOPS GOING INTO ANOTHER ROOM AND CLOSING DOOR 0.42 8. VARIOUS, U.S TROOPS CARRYING PLASTIC BAGS FULL OF PAPERS AND WALKING TO LIFTS (5 SHOTS) 1.07 9. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) GENERAL BUFORD BLOUNT, COMMANDER OF THE 3RD INFANTRY DIVISION SAYING: "He (Mohammed Mohsen Zubaidi) is under investigation and questioning for criminal activity here and violation of the agreements that we have with the government here. He (Zubaidi) assumed power he was not authorised to assume, took position of equipment, money and facilities that he was not authorised to do. He is being questioned right now and his disposition will be determined in a couple of days." 1.34 10. SLV OF U.S. SOLDIERS AT ZUBAIDI'S OFFICE , WALKING DOWN STAIRS 1.41 11. SLV U.S SOLDIERS OUTSIDE OFFICE 1.45 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 13th May 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVAEDTAJ7RTG815970CO2VTC60QT
  • Story Text: A senior U.S. military commander has announced that
    there is no question of releasing Mohammed Mohsen Zubaidi, the
    self-proclaimed Baghdad mayor who was arrested for exercising
    authority he did not have.



    Major General Buford Blount, commander of the 3rd
    Infantry Division, told Reuters on Monday (April 28): "He
    (Mohammed Mohsen Zubaidi) is under investigation and
    questioning for criminal activity here and violation of the
    agreements that we have with the government here. He (Zubaidi)
    assumed power he was not authorised to assume, took position
    of equipment, money and facilities that he was not authorised
    to do. He is being questioned right now and his disposition
    will be determined in a couple of days."
    U.S. Central Command in Qatar announced on Sunday (April
    27) that Zubaidi had been detained and removed from Baghdad
    "to prevent his continued misrepresentation of his authority
    as the mayor of Baghdad in the aftermath of the regime's
    defeat".

    Blount said Zubaidi's self-styled deputy, Jawdat
    al-Obeidi, was also being questioned.

    Zubaidi had said he was elected by people representing
    clerics, academics, Shi'ite and Sunni Muslims, Christians,
    writers and journalists -- although he did not clarify how or
    when a vote took place or who organised it.

    He set up 22 committees to function in place of
    ministries, including health, education, water, electricity
    and industry, prompting widespread confusion about who was
    actually in charge of the Iraqi capital.

    Central Command said Zubaidi had sent letters to
    individuals and organisations in Baghdad telling them not to
    go back to work at power, water and sewage plants and banks
    unless he approved it. It said Zubaidi had fired power company
    employees and appointed his allies in their place.

    Officials in the U.S.-led civil administration for Iraq,
    under retired general Jay Garner, repeatedly said they did not
    recognise Zubaidi's authority. Garner met key Iraqi leaders in
    Baghdad on Monday to discuss the country's future.


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