FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RELEASE No. 20060914-08

Sept. 14, 2006

Iraqi Army Rescues Man Being Tortured By Illegal Armed Group

Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO

BAGHDAD – Iraqi Army units liberated a man who was being held and tortured by members of an illegal armed group in Ad Diwaniyah during an early-morning raid on September 14th.

The man, who was found visibly beaten, tortured, and bound, stated that he had been held for the past three days.  He further stated that the four persons abusing him fled just prior to the arrival of Iraqi assault forces.  The man was immediately treated by medical personnel on-site and evacuated. 

The man was liberated during a raid by Iraqi Army forces, with coalition force advisers, against four suspects wanted for multiple actions against Iraqi forces.  The suspects are members of a group engaged in sectarian violence against Iraqi citizens, the rule of law, and the authority of the Iraqi government.  Their illegal actions include “death squad” activities, the supervision of indirect fire attacks and emplacement of improvised explosive devices in the Ad Diwaniyah area, direct leadership of militia units against Iraqi Army units on August 27th and 28th, and acting as a leadership node for other coordinated and complex attacks against Iraqi army and police forces. 

The operation was conducted to disrupt the leadership of illegal armed groups in Ad Diwaniyah and reestablish Iraqi government control in the city.  While the primary suspects were not captured, an Iraqi citizen was freed and weapons, a mortar aiming sight, improvised explosive devices and other material was captured.

The raid occurred without further incident.

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