By NNN-KUNA
Baghdad : Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki has launched a strong attack against US politicians who recently called for his replacement and accused France of wanting him to leave.
Al-Maliki, who issued a press statement Sunday, reminded France that “not long ago you (French) sided with the former regime (of the late dictator Saddam Hussein).”
He called on the French to observe the rules of proper relations among countries and “apologise to this government.”
He said Iraqis had welcomed French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and were pleased with France “standing by us, the victims of the former regime.”
Al-Maliki said he was calling for an official apology, not from the French Foreign Minister “but from the French government as a whole.”
Turning to another issue, Al-Maliki slammed some US Congressmen for “talking about Iraq as if it was a personal ranch.”
He said US Senators Hilary Clinton and Karl Levine were Democrats, “but they should respect democracy.”
Al-Maliki called on US politicians to have better manners in their references to other governments.
He said a statement, endorsed by five Iraqi political groups, issued Sunday, highlighted what was agreed upon and showing that he had not lost the reins of government in his country.