BAGHDAD MAYOR ARRESTED AT AIRPORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003020 SIPDIS CENTCOM FOR POLAD - AMB. HOLZMAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/21/2025 TAGS: PGOV KDEM IZ XL BAGHDAD SUBJECT: BAGHDAD MAYOR ARRESTED AT AIRPORT Classified By: Political Counselor Robert S. Ford REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) Mayor of Baghdad, Dr. Alaa Al-Tamimi, was arrested July 18 by officials from the Al Mamoon Police Center at the Baghdad International Airport. The police arrested the mayor on orders from the Ministry of Interior on suspicion of his possible links to corruption in the Amanat, Baghdad's equivalent to City Hall, Tamimi told Poloff on July ¶18. ¶2. (U) The mayor spent a night in detention at the Al Mamoon Facility before being released to resume his travels to Amman, Jordan. Dr. Al-Tamimi was heading to Amman to attend a conference on rebuilding efforts in Iraq when he was arrested, he told Poloff. Mr. Ali Al-Shaboot, spokesperson for the Committee on Personal Integrity (CPI),said the Ministry of Interior (MOI) issued the arrest order, according to Sharq al-Awsat newspaper on July 20. The arrest order was based on suspicion of Dr. Al-Tamimi's role in corruption, embezzlement and mismanagement of public funds relating to Amanat operations. Al-Shaboot also confirmed that the order was issued after the mayor refused to provide information about the charges. ¶3. (C) The mayor's current problems coincide with the Baghdad Provincial Council's efforts to dismiss him. The Provincial Council is accusing the mayor of incompetence, lack of qualifications to hold his position, and corruption in his management of the Amanat, the Provincial Council chairman told Poloff on July 18. Last week members of the Baghdad Provincial Council voted to ask the mayor to resign. However, Al-Tamimi has refused to resign and is seeking support from the dissolved Baghdad City Council and the ITG to remain in his office as mayor of Baghdad City. ¶4. (C) REOs Hillah, Basrah, Mosul, and Kirkuk minimize considers. Satterfield