File Photo: Ahmad Chalabi, a former Iraqi governing council member

    BAGHDAD, Aug. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Ahmad Chalabi, a former Iraqi governing council member, currently in Tehran, said he would return to Iraq to clear his name following the issuing of an arrest warrant against him, CNN reported Monday.

    The warrants, issued Saturday by a Baghdad investigating magistrate, Zuhair al-Maliky, accused Chalabi of counterfeiting old Iraqi dinars which had been removed from circulation in this January.

    Chalabi said he had learned only from the press that an arrest warrant had been issued against him in Baghdad, describing the allegation as outrageous and fabricated lies.

    Chalabi, who heads Iraq's National Congress Party, was a protege of US Vice President Dick Cheney, but fell into disfavor in Washington.

    It was reported that senior US officials had alleged that he was passing classified US intelligence to Iran, which was denied by both Tehran and Chalabi himself.

    Another warrant has been issued against Salem Chalabi, Chalabi's nephew who is now in London, on murder charges.

    He was allegedly involved in the murder of Haithem Fadhil,director general of the Finance Ministry, in June.

    Both of them said that the charges were part of a political conspiracy against them and their family, and promised to return to Iraq to clear their names. Enditem