A policeman grimaces while being sent to a hospital in Numaniya, south of Baghdad, October 9, 2006.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    BEIJING, Oct. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- The Iraqi authorities have arrested the contractor in charge of the mess hall at a Numaniyah training base, where up to 400 police officers were poisoned by their evening meal on Sunday.

    Lab test results of the food and water suggest it was caused by negligence on the part of the contractor, not an attack, media quoted Interior Ministry spokesman Brigadier General Abdul Karim Khalaf as saying Tuesday.

    Also arrested were the four cooks who made the meal, Khalaf added.

    On Sunday, hundreds of Iraqi policemen fell ill from poisoning at the base in the twon of Numaniyah after having their evening meal breaking their daily Ramadan fast.

    Khalaf said there were no deaths despite earlier reports.

    However, the police commander, Colonel Badr al-Ziadi, said three officers have died. Previously, a hospital official had said seven died in the incident.  Enditem

    (Agencies)

A soldier talks to his comrade who fell ill from food poisoning in Numaniya, south of Baghdad, October 9, 2006.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

Three police recruits die, 1,200 poisoned

    BAGHDAD, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Three police recruits died and more than 1,200 recruits felt sick after eating suspicious meals Sunday evening at a military training base some 120 km southeast of Baghdad, a medical source said on Monday. Full Story

A policeman is rushed to a hospital after falling ill from food poisoning in Numaniya, south of Baghdad, October 9, 2006. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

Hundreds of Iraqi police poisoned

    BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Hundreds of Iraqi policemen fell ill from poisoning Sunday after having their evening meal at a base located in the town of Numaniyah, southern Iraq.

    Officials said they were investigating whether the poisoning was intentional, according to media reports Monday. Full Story

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