Shia Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Sunday responded to critics in the US Congress, saying his government had kept Iraq from sliding into sectarian civil war. At a news conference, Maliki said his critics had crossed what he called a "reasonable line" and were encouraging those trying to destabilise Iraq.
Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Hillary Clinton and some other US lawmakers have called for parliament to replace Maliki. "They do not realise the size of the disaster that Iraq has passed through and the big role of this government, a government of national unity. The most important achievement is it stopped a sectarian and civil war," Maliki said.
His comments came just over a week before US President George W. Bush's top officials in Iraq present pivotal testimony on the country's security and political situation.
Maliki said he did not want to prejudge the reports by US commander, General David Petraeus, and Ambassador Ryan Crocker, which are to be delivered to Congress on September 10. "We have to wait until we know what is written," he said.
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