Fugitive Iraq VP flees to Qatar

Iraq's fugitive Sunni Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, who is accused of running a death squad, left Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region for Qatar on Sunday, a statement from his office said. It is the first time that Hashemi has announced a departure from the autonomous region since he fled there in December. Though Baghdad has called for Kurdistan to hand Hashemi over, it has so far declined to do so. Hashemi "left the Kurdistan region of Iraq this morning, Sunday, going to Doha in the brother state of Qatar," accepting an invitation he had previously received, the statement emailed to AFP said. During the visit, which will last several days, Hashemi will meet Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabr al-Thani, before visiting unnamed other countries and returning to Kurdistan, the statement said. Qatari state news agency QNA said that Hashemi had "arrived in Doha today (Sunday) in an official visit that will last a few days." "He was received upon his arrival at Doha International Airport by the Qatari Minister of State Sheikh Hamad bin Nasser bin Jassem al-Thani," QNA reported without giving further details. Al-Maliki streesed that Iraq "has the right to demand al-Hashemi through Interpol", urging the Arab countries not receive him. The prime minister said in a press conference: "The Arab countries must be aware that anybody who is wanted by the judiciary of an Arab League member state, shouldn't be received in any other Arab country, especially if this person is a vice president as this is not acceptable in international relations."