Iraq Sunnis blame government for torture

BAGHDAD, April 30 (UPI) -- Iraq's Association of Muslim Scholars, the only Sunni religious authority, Saturday blamed the new government for arresting and torturing 30 Sunni clerics.

The association issued a statement saying the "and violations against God's houses of worship and Islamic institutions are the beginning of a new chapter in the serious violations against the Iraqi people and their beliefs."

It said the special forces of the interior ministry Friday raided several Islamic mosques and homes of clerics, arresting more than 30 mosque speakers and worshippers, including a senior members of the association.

The statement said the detainees were being tortured.