Saudi Arabia planning to assassinate fugitive Iraqi VP al-Hashemi

The Saudi regime is reportedly planning to assassinate fugitive Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi over fears that he might disclose Saudi Arabia’s role in cooperation with al-Qaeda militants in Iraq.

According to a report published by Al-Medina which was cited by Al-Awamiyah website, Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz has ordered the country’s spy chief Prince Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud to assassinate Tariq al-Hashemi, according to Press TV.

Saudi authorities fear that Hashemi will reveal ties between the Riyadh regime, Baath party elements and Iraqi terrorist groups if he is arrested and put on trial in Baghdad.

Hashemi is accused of being involved in bomb attacks against the government and security officials over the past years, including a November 2011 car bombing in the capital Baghdad that apparently targeted Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The fugitive vice president and his bodyguards also face accusations of killing six judges.

On December 19, 2011, an investigative committee within the Iraqi Interior Ministry issued an arrest warrant for Hashemi after three of his bodyguards confessed to having taken orders from him to carry out the terrorist attacks.

In May 2012, Interpol also issued an international Red Notice alert for the arrest of Hashemi “on suspicion of guiding and financing terrorist attacks.”

R.S