Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Sunni vice president accused of running death squads

Updated at 8:21 pm on 17 February 2012

An investigation panel in Iraq has backed accusations that the country's Sunni vice president Tariq al-Hashemi has been behind numerous attacks on security officials and Shia pilgrims.

The Shia Prime Minister sought his arrest in December, triggering a political crisis between Shia and Sunni political factions.

The panel says Mr Hashemi and his associates have been running death squads for years, the BBC reports.

It says they have been involved in at least 150 cases, including attacks on security officials and Shia pilgrims.

Sunni leaders have questioned the independence of the panel.

Mr Hashemi denies the charges and has taken refuge in the northern Kurdish region.

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