Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki has declared that his government rejects the intervention of U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Christopher Hill in Iraq's election affairs (the ambassador earlier criticized the decision to bar 511 candidates and called for an open and transparent election). Al-Maliki asserted: "We will not allow Hill to exceed his authority as ambassador of the United States to Iraq."
Al-Maliki added that he will not be silent about the crimes committed by the Ba'thists (during the Saddam regime) in executions, destruction and physical and psychological torture of Iraqis. Al-Maliki also accused the Ba'th party and Al-Qaeda of being jointly responsible for the recent bombing in Baghdad which destroyed key ministries and caused the death of hundreds of people.
Sources: Al-Mada, Iraq, February 6; alfayhaa.tv, February 7, 2010; Al-Zaman, Iraq, February 8, 2010
