Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Iraqi PM Says Politics Behind WikiLeaks

   VOA News 23 October 2010
   Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki (file photo)

Photo: AP

   Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki (file photo)

   Iraqi  Prime  Minister Nouri al-Maliki says a new unauthorized release
   of  U.S.  military documents on the Iraq war is an attempt to sabotage
   his re-election bid.
   In  a  Saturday  statement,  he said political interests are playing a
   role in the WikiLeaks postings of the classified files.
   Mr.  Maliki has been fighting to remain in power after March elections
   yielded inconclusive results. Â
   The prime minister's Shi'ite dominated State of Law coalition finished
   a close second behind the Sunni-backed Iraqiya alliance, led by former
   Prime Minister Ayad Allawi.  Both groups have been lobbying for extra
   support after falling short of the majority needed to govern.
   The  Associated  Press quotes Iraqiya spokesman Maysoun al-Damlouji as
   saying  the  WikiLeaks  reports  of  alleged  prisoner  abuse by Iraqi
   security forces show what can happen when too much power is given to a
   single leader.
   Separately,  Iraqi  President Jalal Talabani traveled to the country's
   Kurdistan  region  Saturday  for  talks with regional President Masoud
   Barzani on forming a new government.
   The  Kurdistan  Alliance,  which  consists of the two dominant Kurdish
   parties, won 43 seats in March elections.

.