Iraq's Vice-President accuses PM of Baghdad blasts

December 23, 2011 - 09:44 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Iraq's Vice-President Tariq al-Hashemi has said Prime Minister Nouri Maliki is to blame for a sudden surge of violence in the country, BBC reports.

Dozens of people were killed in a string of blasts across the capital, Baghdad, on Thursday, December 22.

Hashemi, who is subject to an arrest warrant on terror charges, said that Maliki should be focusing on security not "chasing patriotic politicians".

The crisis has sparked fears of renewed sectarian conflict in Iraq.

Maliki is from the majority Shia Arab group while Hashemi is one of the country's most prominent Sunni politicians. He has been accused of orchestrating terror attacks on officials and security forces, a charge he denies. In response, the main Sunni political bloc, al-Iraqiyya, is blockading parliament and the cabinet, putting the future of the fragile year-old unity government in doubt.

"We should blame Mr Maliki, he started a national crisis and it's not easy to control," Mr Hashemi told the BBC's Arabic Service. "The Iraqis have a right to be worried."

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