The arrest by Iraqi security forces of a top official of an Iran-backed militia on suspicion of coordinating the murder of a leading pro-democracy activist risks a major showdown between his powerful group and the government.
Iraqi security forces have arrested senior militia commander Qasim Muslih under the country’s anti-terrorism law, the military said.
Muslih was arrested early on Wednesday and is being questioned by a joint investigative committee about the criminal charges against him, a military statement added, without giving further details.
Two security sources with direct knowledge of the arrest told Reuters news agency that the militia chief was arrested in Baghdad for involvement in several attacks, including recent assaults on Ain al-Assad airbase which hosts American and other international forces.
Muslih is the Anbar province head of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), a grouping of mostly Shia militias backed by Iran, which the United States regards as the biggest threat to security in the Middle East.