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German embassy siezed by iraqi dissidents { August 20 2002 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/europe/2205470.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/europe/2205470.stm Tuesday, 20 August, 2002, 17:25 GMT 18:25 UK Dissidents seize Iraqi embassy Iraqi dissidents are holding a number of people hostage - including Iraq's acting ambassador to Germany - after occupying the embassy in the capital, Berlin, German police say The activists, who belong to a little-known group, were seeking to "liberate the land of Iraq", one of the hostage-takers told Al-Jazeera satellite television from inside the embassy. In its first reaction, Iraq called the incident a "terrorist aggression" and accused US and Israeli intelligence services of masterminding the assault. Two embassy staff were slightly injured, possibly by pepper spray, when the hostage-takers entered the building in the Zehlendorf area of south-west Berlin soon after 1200GMT. German intelligence and the main Iraqi opposition organisations say they know nothing about the dissident group, which calls itself the Democratic Iraqi Opposition of Germany. The German Government has condemned the hostage-taking, saying the "violation of the diplomatic immunity of the embassy of the Republic of Iraq is against international law and unacceptable". The incident comes two days after German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder renewed his opposition to a possible US war against Iraq - a stance which has met with criticism from Washington. 'Liberation' In a statement, the Democratic Iraqi Opposition of Germany said it had launched a "peaceful and temporary" action. "In the name of the Iraqi people and their legitimate leadership, the Iraqi opposition, we declare that the liberation of Iraqi soil begins today," said the group's statement, faxed to Reuters. We are taking over the Iraqi embassy in Berlin and with this the first step in the liberation of our beloved fatherland". A member of the group, speaking by telephone to the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera TV channel, rejected the terms "occupation" and "assault", saying "the operation aims to free the land of Iraq, that's all". He also said the group was unarmed and that the situation inside the building was calm, according to the French news agency AFP. The area was sealed off and armed police in bullet-proof vests deployed. Police were alerted by an emergency call from local residents, a spokesman told the Associated Press. "The hostages seem to have been taken after an argument with staff," police spokesman Joerg Nittmann told reporters. He estimated that about 10 people were in the building at the time it was occupied. Opposition censure The new Iraqi embassy opened in Berlin on 17 July after moving from Bonn, the former West German capital. German police are responsible for guarding the perimeter, but can only enter the premises with Iraqi permission. The Iraqi National Congress (INC), the country's main opposition group in exile, condemned the occupation by what it said was an obscure organisation not representing the opposition. "We confine our war of liberation to Iraq proper," an INC spokesman in London said. "We are trying to get more information on these people. We do not condone such violence," the spokesman said.

alqaeda british david-kelly doubts false-intelligence inquiry investigation iraq-denies israel leak-osama-link wmd 2002 dia report questions intelligence for war { November 6 2005 } Administration manifactured and manipulated intelligence Broke missile limits { February 13 2003 } Bureau of intelligence and research got it wrong { July 19 2004 } Bush and blair plot pretext to attack iraq Bush warns on iraq { October 6 2002 } Chemical attack 45min Cheney passed intelligence from iraqi national congress Cheneys war by fraud exposed Could plant weapons Distortions of intelligence on iraq { August 1 2003 } Drone weapon { March 13 2003 } Drones target cities { February 24 2003 } Fabricating pretext war Found road German embassy siezed by anti hussein iraqis { August 21 2002 } German embassy siezed by iraqi dissidents { August 20 2002 } Iraq china chemical Iraq not violating fly zones { November 19 2002 } Iraq nukes soon { September 16 2002 } Iraq report claims no arms { September 17 2004 } Iraq report falls short { December 20 2002 } Iraqi speakers found { August 26 2002 } Nonexistent biolab trailers carried case for war { April 12 2006 } Nsa has evidence Oil contracts planned pre 911 Pilot behind enemy lines Powell testiomy based on flawed intelligence { February 5 2003 } Report criticizes administration assessments of iraq dangers Report says iraq bigger threat if defeated { July 21 2003 } Reporter apologizes for iraq coverage { March 29 2004 } Rumsfeld draws blank on blairs 45 minute iraq claim { February 11 2004 } Rumsfeld told saudi bandar sadam is toast Stovepipe seymour hersh { September 11 2001 } Tape deceiving inspectors { February 3 2003 } Tenet denied influence from osp { February 6 2004 } Tenet denies pressure to torque iraq intelligence Tenet says saddam wasnt threat Un finds empty warheads Us backed iraqis provided questionable info Whats he have White house embraced disputed intelligence { October 3 2004 } Wolfowitz says war about oil Files Listed: 43

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