Iraqi police on strike in Tikrit, demanding release of police chief

TIKRIT, Iraq, - Iraqi police in Tikrit,
north of Baghdad, went on strike Wednesday demanding the release of a
police chief captured by the US troops and guarantees from the foreign
forces to respect the local police, a police officer said.

Police stations and streets of Tikrit, some 170 km north of
Baghdad, were devoid of police who went on strike in a protest against
the capture of Brigadier Hatem al-Juboury, chief of the homicide
department in Salahudin provincial headquarters, Lieutenant Colonel
Muhamed Ali told Xinhua.

Al-Juboury was arrested Tuesday along with another officer
by the US troops who surrounded the police headquarters of Salahudin in
Tikrit and confiscated all weapons there.

"How can we work while the American soldiers arresting our
officers without accusations and confiscate our weapons," Ali said.

"We won’t resume our jobs unless the US troops release
BrigadierHatem and offer guarantees to respect the Iraqi police," Ali
added.

Another police officer, Major General Mizher Taha
al-Ghannam, described the US arrest as "premeditated disarmament of the
Iraqi police", accusing the US troops of destabilizing the province.

The US military sometimes accuse the Iraqi security forces
of collaborating with insurgents to launch attacks on the US-led troops
in Iraq. (Xinhuanet)