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9 May 2012

Erdogan: Hashemi will Return to Iraq after Completing Medical Treatment in Turkey

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi would likely return to Iraq after finishing his medical treatment in Turkey.

Erdogan, during his visit to Italy, told reporters that al-Hashemi was in Turkey due to his health problems and to hold talks regarding latest developments, and said "I believe, he will return his country following his treatment."

Al-Hashemi has been in Turkey since mid-April.

Meanwhile, Interpol recently issued a "red bulletin" for al-Hashemi, responding to a request from Baghdad. However, diplomatic sources said that this was not a warrant of arrest.

Sources said that red notices were based on national warrants, and published at the request of a member state as long as the requests did not violate Interpol regulations.

Sources noted that red bulletin was not an international warrant of arrest, adding that there was not a certain verdict about al-Hashemi.

Sources stressed that al-Hashemi was still the vice president of Iraq and he had diplomatic immunity.

Al-Hashemi is being tried in absentia in Baghdad on charges of terrorism as well as guiding and financing death squads that targeted government officials, security forces and Shiite pilgrims. The Iraqi government links him to about 150 bombings, assassinations and other attacks, and says the death squads were largely composed of the vice president's bodyguards and other employees. The trial was postponed to May 10 after lawyers for al-Hashemi, who has denied the charges, appealed to have parliament create a special court to hear the case. The Sunni vice president has vowed not to return to face what he calls politically motivated charges.

Al-Hashemi has denied all charges against him calling the charges as "politically motivated".

Al-Hashemi is a member of the Sunni-dominated Iraqiya political bloc, which won the most seats in the 2010 parliamentary election.

The Iraqi national government currently is mostly made up of Shiites.

Meanwhile, al-Hashemi told reporters on Tuesday that the issue was all over political, and the charges against him were groundless.

I am a suspect, not a criminal, thus, Interpol should not rush to put warrant of arrest into effect about me, said al- Hashemi who released a statement via his press office.