Somebody99
01-10-2006, 11:48
Insurgents spreading Iraq coup rumors
Iraqi government says ‘terrorists’ spreading rumor of military coup during all-day curfew.
BAGHDAD - Anti-government insurgents are spreading false rumors about an attempted coup in Baghdad, the government said Saturday, as the city was placed under curfew.
"This is a rumor that takfiris (Sunni extremists) and terrorists are spreading," said Brigadier General Qassim Mussawi, the prime minister's military spokesman, when asked about rumors of an impending military coup.
"This is not true, our forces will continue chasing terrorists in all sectors," he said on state television.
The all-day curfew was put in place Saturday "as a precautionary measure" said Mussawi, in response to intelligence tips about possible suicide attacks.
Two months ago rumors swirled about dissatisfaction in the Iraqi army leadership, and on Friday night the US television network NBC cited one of Iraq's deputy prime ministers as saying the military was planning a coup.
Interior ministry spokesman Brigadier General Abdel Karim Khalaf laughed off the possibility of a coup.
"Who would be overthrowing whom? If you gave Baghdad to the army, they would say 'no, please keep it!'," he said.
"What would they do? Go down to the Green Zone and arrest (US Ambassador Zalmay) Khalilzad in the presence of a hundred thousand US soldiers?"
Iraqi government says ‘terrorists’ spreading rumor of military coup during all-day curfew.
BAGHDAD - Anti-government insurgents are spreading false rumors about an attempted coup in Baghdad, the government said Saturday, as the city was placed under curfew.
"This is a rumor that takfiris (Sunni extremists) and terrorists are spreading," said Brigadier General Qassim Mussawi, the prime minister's military spokesman, when asked about rumors of an impending military coup.
"This is not true, our forces will continue chasing terrorists in all sectors," he said on state television.
The all-day curfew was put in place Saturday "as a precautionary measure" said Mussawi, in response to intelligence tips about possible suicide attacks.
Two months ago rumors swirled about dissatisfaction in the Iraqi army leadership, and on Friday night the US television network NBC cited one of Iraq's deputy prime ministers as saying the military was planning a coup.
Interior ministry spokesman Brigadier General Abdel Karim Khalaf laughed off the possibility of a coup.
"Who would be overthrowing whom? If you gave Baghdad to the army, they would say 'no, please keep it!'," he said.
"What would they do? Go down to the Green Zone and arrest (US Ambassador Zalmay) Khalilzad in the presence of a hundred thousand US soldiers?"