IRAQIYYA COR MEMBERS DISCUSS MOI ACCUSATIONS

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 003422

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR PINS IR IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQIYYA COR MEMBERS DISCUSS MOI ACCUSATIONS
AGAINST AYAD ALLAWI, INFLUENCE OF IRAN

REF: A) VOICES OF IRAQ ARTICLE (10/9/07) B) BAGHDAD
O-I 9/20/07 C) LETTER FROM HUSAM AL-AZZAWI

Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Robert Waller for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)


1. (S/NF) Summary: Iraqiyya Council of Representatives (CoR)
members Husam Abd Karim al-Azzawi, Sheikh Khairallah
al-Basri, and Alia Nasif Jasim al-Ubeidi told PolCouns and
PolOff in a meeting October 9 the Ministry of Interior (MOI)
has falsely accused Ayad Allawi of having links to Jund
al-Samaa or "Soldiers of Heaven," (a Shiite terrorist group),
reportedly involved in incidents near Najaf in January 2007.
Iraqiyya, in a press conference on October 9, demanded an
apology from the GOI regarding these accusations. The three
Iraqiyya members believe the MOI and Iran want to slander
Ayad Allawi's reputation. Azzawi is trying to form an
independent committee in the CoR to review these incidents,
with participation from CoR members, the UN, Presidency
Council, and others. Throughout this meeting and another on
October 10, Azzawi and the other Iraqiyya members relayed
their fears regarding Iran's influence in Iraq and urged USG
involvement to thwart this influence. End summary.

ACCUSATIONS AGAINST ALLAWI
--------------


2. (S/NF) Iraqiyya members Husam Abd Karim al-Azzawi, Sheikh
Khairallah al-Basri, and Alia Nasif Jasim al-Ubeidi told
PolCouns and PolOff that Iraqiyya is asking the MOI to
apologize for accusing Ayad Allawi of having links to Jund
al-Samaa or "Soldiers of Heaven," a terrorist group involved
in incidents near Najaf in January 2007. At a recent press
conference, MOI spokesman and Director of the National
Command Center Abdul Karim Khalaf showed videotaped
"confessions" ostensibly revealing ties between the leader of
Jund al-Samaa and Allawi. Specifically, the MOI claims the
leader of Jund al-Samaa, Diyaa Abdullah al-Karaawi, received
financial support from Ayad Allawi and that a meeting was
arranged between the two men in Egypt (ref A). Jund al-Samaa,
a Shiite armed group, is believed to be responsible for
various assassinations and attacks in Iraq.


3. (S/NF) The trio argued that the motive for the MOI's
investigation is to slander Allawi's reputation. Azzawi said
he plans to gain support from the CoR, the United Nations,
Presidency Council, and others, to form an independent
committee in the CoR to review this incident. He believes
the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council should also be involved.
He fears Allawi is a target, he said, "because he knows the
size of Iran's operations in Iraq." (Note: In a separate
meeting, an independent CoR member told Poloff that the
allegations against Allawi originated in the Prime Minister's
Office. End note)

IRAN'S INTERFERENCE
--------------


4. (S/NF) Sheikh Khairallah reiterated several times that
Iran is trying to become an atomic power. Because Allawi
realizes "the extent of danger" Iran poses, the Iranians are
going after him through their GOI contacts. Likewise, Azzawi
said national reconciliation is failing because of Iran's
influence, which the GOI is too weak to resist. He claimed
Iran is recruiting militias and individuals in the GOI
because it wants the GOI political apparatus to fail. He
urged the US to partner with the EU and form a committee to
"isolate Iran" (sic). He commented he is working with the
Iraq National Dialogue Front (INDF),Tawafuq, and even some
members of the Shia coalition to combat Iranian interference,
including financial support and weapons flowing from Iran.

ALLAWI'S SAFETY
--------------


5. (S/NF) Alia al-Ubeidi underscored her concern for Allawi's
safety. (As reported Ref B, she had previously raised these
concerns with DepPolCouns and PolOff following Allawi's
alleged meetings with Ba'ath party members in Jordan.) She
reiterated that Iranian intelligence is out to assassinate
Allawi. Izzat Shahbandar, Iraqiyya spokesman, also raised
this threat on Dubai al-Sharqiyah television on October 9,
saying Iran was trying to "discredit Allawi politically and
liquidate him physically." Husam al-Azzawi also sent PolOff
a letter on October 12 regarding intelligence that members of
Jaysh al-Mahdi who have connections with Iran may be trying
to assassinate Dr. Ayad Allawi (ref C).
CROCKER