Iraq rejects testimony by former anti-graft chief (Maliki protected corrupt relatives)

[Barrett808]

Source: Reuters

BAGHDAD, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Iraq rejected on Saturday testimony by the former head of the country's anti-corruption commission who said Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki protected some corrupt relatives from the investigative body.

"The testimony by ... Radhi al-Radhi in front of members of (U.S.) Congress is nothing more than false allegations ... that serves known sides and figures who are systematically attempting to harm Prime Minister Nuri Kamil al-Maliki's reputation," a statement from Maliki's office said.

Radhi, who left Iraq in August after threats against him, told U.S. lawmakers on Thursday that 31 employees at the Iraqi Independent Integrity Commission were killed because of their jobs and that the government lost $18 billion through corruption.

The statement from Maliki's office said the prime minister had consistently asked Radhi to tackle graft and pointed out that Iraq's parliament had accused Radhi himself of politicising the independent body.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/KHA657033.htm

[rodeodance]

1. Reporter was on cspan today---she says few trust the Maliki gov.

[Robbien]

2. The LA Times story on this says that Maliki is so angry

he wants to press charges against the auditor. The documents the auditor used to prove Maliki is corrupt are confidential official documents which Maliki says the auditor stole and brought to the US.