'Americans' helped Iraqi ex-minister escape jail | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited

'Americans' helped Iraqi ex-minister escape jail | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited: "The US launched an investigation yesterday after a former Iraqi minister was reported to have escaped from jail in Baghdad with the help of plainclothes Americans.

The US ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, said the FBI had been enlisted to help find out the circumstances of former Iraqi electricity minister Ayham al-Samarraie's escape.

Initial reports said four SUVs had approached the police station in the green zone where Samarraie was being held, sparking rumours that US officials or troops had been involved.

Mr Khalilzad categorically denied this was the case and said that it may well be that he had paid some private individuals to help him escape.

An Iraqi government source told the Guardian he had received a phone call three weeks ago from Samarraie in prison saying he would be free soon.

It is fairly common for inmates to offer bribes to escape prison." Read complete post here.