US ARMED FORCES IN THE IRAQI CITY OF TIKRIT ON SATURDAY ARRESTED A SENIOR SUNNI MUSLIM SCHOLAR PROMPTING AN ANGRY RESPONSE FROM LOCAL CITIZENS AND OFFICIALS. TROOPS ARRESTED SUNNI MUFTI SHEIKH GAMAL ABDEL KARIM AL-DABBAN AT HIS HOME IN THE CITY, 180 KILOMETRES NORTH-EAST OF BAGHDAD, A LOCAL POLICE OFFICIAL TOLD DEUTSCHE PRESSE-AGENTUR DPA. PROVINCIAL OFFICIALS FOLLOWING THE ARREST ANNOUNCED THE SUSPENSION OF COOPERATION WITH US FORCES UNTIL AL-DABBAN IS RELEASED. DEPUTY GOVERNOR OF SALAH AD DIN PROVINCE, IN WHICH TIKRIT IS LOCATED, ABDALLAH HUSSEIN JABBARA, SAID HOWEVER THAT COOPERATION WOULD CONTINUE IN ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND UTILITIES. JABBARA DENOUNCED THE ARREST AS AN UNWARRANTED OFFENCE AGAINST A MAJOR RELIGIOUS FIGURE WHO PREACHED AND PROMOTED PEACE AND SECURITY. "THIS ARREST IS TOTALLY UNJUSTIFIED, WE HAVE INFORMED THE US FORCES ABOUT OUR DECISION, IT IS UP TO THEM TO HEED OUR MESSAGE." BASSEM AL-JEISHI, A MEMBER OF THE SUNNI ASSOCIATION OF MUSLIM SCHOLARS SAID "THE OCCUPATION FORCES HAVE COMMITTED ANOTHER ONE OF THEIR HEINOUS CRIMES AGAINST MUSLIMS." NUMEROUS SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAVE ASKED IRAQI PRESIDENT JALAL TALABANI TO INTERVENE ON BEHALF OF THE DETAINED MUFTI AND TO DEMAND HIS RELEASE. SHEIKH AL-DABBAN IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE CHIEF MUFTI, OR INTERPRETER OF ISLAMIC SHARIA LAW, OF IRAQ'S SUNNIS. HE HAD RECENTLY RETURNED TO TIKRIT FROM BAGHDAD DUE TO THE ESCALATION OF SECTARIAN UNREST IN THE CAPITAL.
