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The vice president has since traveled to Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey
-- three nations that have tense relations with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. After years of sectarian bloodshed, Iraqis are not overly shocked that some of their officials might have links to terrorism. But al-Hashemi's trial has been viewed with skepticism among many Sunnis and Shiites who question why the vice president was singled out. Many are eagerly awaiting the chance to see the evidence brought against al-Hashemi. Authorities say that some bodyguards have confessed to the terror plots that targeted police officers, government officials and judges with assassination. Al-Hashemi meanwhile says that bodyguards were tortured to extract confessions, and two died under torture
-- accusations that the government denies. Al-Hashemi is a member of the Sunni-dominated Iraqiya political bloc, which won the most seats in the 2010 parliamentary election but was outmaneuvered in post-vote negotiations for the right to seat the new government.
[Associated
Press;
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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