Iraqi police say local official found with large amount of explosives, charged with terrorism

Iraqi official found with TNT, charged with terror

BAGHDAD — Iraqi police have arrested a local official on terrorism charges after finding a large amount of explosives in his home, a security official said Tuesday.

Amer Rifaat, with the Diyala provincial security committee, said 11 pounds (five kilograms) of TNT and three remote controlled devices were uncovered in a Sunni official’s home in the town of Sadiyah, 60 miles (95 kilometers) north of Baghdad.

He said Saleh Mahdi Saleh, head of Sadiyah’s municipal council, was taken into custody on Tuesday morning and charged with terrorism. Rifaat said police acted on the confession of Saleh’s son who was arrested two days ago on terrorism charges and said his family kept explosives in their home.

“Saleh’s son, Younis, was arrested based on the complaints of neighbors about his suspicious activities in the area,” said Rifaat, refusing to elaborate on the nature of these activities.

Saleh was affiliated with the Sunni Arab Group in Diyala province, a bloc made up of Sunni parties.

Many Sunnis in Iraq have complained that they have been the target of arrests similar to Saleh’s and claim such incidents show the Shiite-dominated government is persecuting them.

Also Tuesday, the U.S. military said one American soldier died in Baghdad of injuries sustained in a noncombat related accident. A statement released by the army said the incident is under investigation and provided no details. The name of the deceased soldier is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The death raises to 4,406 the number of U.S. military personnel who have died in Iraq since the war began in March 2003. That’s according to an Associated Press count.

Meanwhile, Iraqi police said a roadside bomb in the northern town of al-Hajaj, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) north of Baghdad, exploded on Tuesday as a car was driving by, killing the driver and wounding a passenger inside.

Associated Press Writer Yahya Barzanji contributed to this report.

(This version CORRECTS title of Diyala official from chief to member of security committee.)