Iraq slams Odierno statements on bribes

BAGHDAD, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Iraqi lawmakers Thursday said they viewed statements from the top U.S. commander suggesting Baghdad took bribes from Iran as unnecessary interference.

The top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. Ray Odierno, told The Washington Post Monday that Iran was inserting its agenda into the negotiations surrounding the long-term security pact between Washington and Baghdad.

He said there were "intelligence reports" that suggested Iranians are "coming in to pay off people to vote against" the long-term security deal set to replace the U.N. mandate for Iraq, but offered no proof of the claim.

Iraqi lawmakers issued a statement Thursday saying they viewed the statements from Odierno as tantamount to meddling in Iraqi internal affairs, Voices of Iraq reported.

"Parliament expressed concern and condemnation over the statements made by Gen. Ray Odierno in which he accused some Iraqi lawmakers of receiving bribes from Iran to undermine the bilateral security agreement between Iraq and U.S., considering such accusations as interference in Iraq's affairs and a violation of diplomatic mores," Parliament said in a statement.

The Iranian ambassador to Iraq, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, criticized Odierno's statements as an attempt by Washington to blame Tehran for shortcomings in the U.S. strategy in Iraq.

"Whenever (Washington) faces a new challenge or deadlock in carrying out its plans in Iraq, like what is happening now in the case of the deadlock over the security agreement with the Iraqi officials, it resorts to its failed policy of scapegoating others," he said.