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Update: Americans Detain Iranian Delegation - مراسل "راديو سوا": قوة أميركية تعتقل ستة من أعضاء وفد إيراني رسمي في بغداد

Update:  The siege by the Americans of the Sheraton hotel in which the delegation of officials from Iran who had come to meet Electricity ministry officials has resulted in the Americans detaining the Iranian officials. They have taken away six people who were among Iranian official delegation that arrived in Irak on Monday to negotiate a contract with the green zone government Ministry of Electricity deals relating to electrical installations.

The American invaders and their green zone government underlings have refused to comment on the incident. The hotel manager told Radio Sawa they were a delegation from Iran - the green zone government denied knowledge of them.

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U.S. Troops Reportedly Detain Iranians

By BASSEM MROUE
Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — U.S. troops raided a Baghdad hotel Tuesday night and detained about 10 people. A U.S.-funded radio station said the group included six members of an Iranian delegation here to negotiate contacts with the Iraqis.

The Iranian Embassy said seven Iranians - an embassy employee and six members of a delegation from Iran’s Electricity Ministry - were staying at the Sheraton Ishtar Hotel, which American forces entered late Tuesday.

Videotape shot by Associated Press Television News showed the Americans leading about 10 men, blindfolded and handcuffed, out of the hotel in central Baghdad.

Other U.S. soldiers left the hotel carrying what appeared to be luggage and at least one briefcase and a laptop computer bag.

U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Christopher Garver declined to comment, saying the action was part of an ongoing operation.

The Web site of Radio Sawa, an Arabic language station financed by the United States, said the Iranian delegation was in Baghdad to negotiate contracts on electric power stations. The report said the Iranians were detained and taken to an unknown location.

An Iranian diplomat told The Associated Press that the Iranian Embassy had notified Iraqi authorities about the Radio Sawa report. The diplomat refused to give his name.

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sources: U.S. Troops Reportedly Detain Iranians  and Radio Sawa above