Global General

Iraqi man rewarded $85K for car bomb tip-off

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-12-29 22:00

BAGHDAD: The Iraqi military said on Tuesday the government has rewarded a man US$85,000 for informing security forces of a would-be car bomb in Baghdad.

"The prime minister decided to reward a citizen who provided information about a booby-trapped car in Jamaa neighborhood (western Baghdad) and give him 100 million Iraqi dinars," said Major General Qassim Atta, the spokesman for Baghdad Operations Command.

But Atta did not give the name of the man for security reasons.

On December 16, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told reporters that the security forces were focusing on boosting intelligence service by activating the role of the citizens in reporting about terrorist activities.

He confirmed that his government offered a reward of 100 million Iraqi dinars (US$85,000) to anyone who provides information about car bombs or those who are behind terrorist acts.

Meanwhile, Baghdad Operations Command said that it has lifted restrictions on media activities in the capital by cancelling obligatory authorization to work across the city.

"The Baghdad Operations Command decided to cancel all authorizations earlier given to media to work in Baghdad," the command said in a statement.

The command also said that it ordered all military unites to help the work of media and protect their activities in all areas in Baghdad.

The command has asked the media to obtain formal written authorization before covering news in the Iraqi capital.