posted July 18, 2006 10:31 PM              

Former Iraqi Elections Officials Arrested

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BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- The director general of the Independent Electoral Commission in Iraq and 10 other employees have been arrested on charges of corruption, the head of the government's anti-corruption body said Tuesday.

Adel al-Lami surrendered to authorities Monday after a warrant was issued for his arrest. He is accused of misusing public funds along with the 10 others, including senior election officials, said Judge Radhi al-Radhi, chairman of the High Commission of Integrity.

"Al-Lami and the ten others are being investigated over wasting public money," al-Radhi said.

He added that five members of the electoral commission complained to the High Commission of Integrity about al-Lami and his colleagues.

Meanwhile, Al-Lami has sued five former colleagues on similar charges, al-Radhi said. He would not give further details, but said investigators were looking into the claim.

While working on the electoral commission, there were reports of widespread disagreement between top officials. Officials at the commission were said to have issued statements aimed at discrediting the others.

The electoral commission's job was to supervise last year's Jan. 30 and Dec. 15 general elections, and the Oct. 15 referendum on the new constitution.