Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al- Maliki on Sunday rebuked American and French critics who have called for him to be replaced from office.
"Recently we were happy to receive French foreign minister ( Bernard Kouchner). We were optimistic that his visit would start a new relationship," Maliki told news conference in Baghdad's Green Zone, referring to a recent visit by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.
"But suddenly we were surprised that the minister made a statement which can't be called in any way diplomacy, when he called for replacing the government," Maliki said.
"In the past you backed the former regime (Saddam regime). Today you decided to support the former regime's loyalists," Maliki said, adding "We demand an apology from the French government."
Maliki's comments came after Kouchner reportedly suggested in an interview with a U.S. news magazine that Maliki should step aside.
Maliki also lashed out critics made by American politicians namely Carl Levin and Hillary Clinton, two U.S. senators, who urged Iraqi lawmakers to choose someone else to lead Iraq's ruling coalition and seek faster national reconciliation.
"There are American officials who see Iraq as if it is one of their villages, for example Hillary Clinton and Carl Levin. They should come to their senses," Maliki said.
"The two are democratic people and should respect democracy," he said.
"When they give their judgment they have no knowledge of what reconciliation means," he added.
He said that reconciliation takes a long time as Iraqi political leaders should deal with "differences, based on sectarian and political affiliations, inherited from the former regime."
Source: Xinhua
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