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Against U.S. Wishes, Iraq Releases Man Accused of Killing American Soldiers
(New York Times) Michael R. Gordon - Iraq on Thursday released Ali Musa Daqduq, a Hizbullah operative accused by American military prosecutors of killing American troops, terrorism and espionage. Daqduq has left Iraq and is now in Beirut. The case is noteworthy because it is regarded as a test of whether the U.S. or Iran has more influence over the Shiite-dominated government of Iraq. Hizbullah, a Shiite militant organization, is backed by Iran. American officials repeatedly insisted that they did not want Daqduq released. Daqduq was the last detainee handed over to the Iraqis by the U.S. as American troops withdrew in December. American military officials accused Daqduq of working with the Quds Force - an Iranian unit that supports militant groups abroad - to train Shiite militias in Iraq during the war.