BAGHDAD, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Former Iraqi leader Ahmed Chalabi said Monday he and his nephew will return from exile to Iraq to face murder and counterfeiting charges, CNN reported.
Chalabi, the head of the Iraqi National Congress and a member of the now-dissolved Iraqi Governing Council, was charged Saturday with counterfeiting Iraqi dinar bank notes.
His nephew, Salem Chalabi, now living in London, faces an arrest warrant in connection with a charge of the murder of a former finance ministry official.
A former banker, Ahmed Chalabi was a Pentagon favorite before the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and the INC received more than $27 million in U.S. funds.
But in May, Iraqi police and U.S. troops raided his home and office, and U.S. officials accused him of passing closely held U.S. secrets to Iran, which he denies.
"Without a doubt, I'm being set up," he said. "The idea that I was involved in counterfeiting is ridiculous and the charges are being made for political purposes."
