Aziz: Obama 'leaving Iraq to wolves'

BAGHDAD, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Tariq Aziz, one of Saddam Hussein's top lieutenants, said in his first interview since his arrest in 2003 that President Obama is "leaving Iraq to the wolves."

Aziz told The Guardian that Britain and the United States broke Iraq and he urged U.S. forces to remain in the country.

"They killed our country in many ways," he said. "When you make a mistake you need to correct a mistake, not leave Iraq to its death."

Aziz, who served as deputy prime minister from 1979 to the overthrow of Saddam in 2003, is serving a seven-year sentence at a prison in the Baghdad area and could face additional charges. He refused to criticize Saddam, saying he would only do so as a free man because he would appear to be an "opportunist" if he did so while in custody.

"For 30 years Saddam built Iraq and now it is destroyed," he said. "There are more sick than before, more hungry. The people don't have services. People are being killed every day in the tens, if not hundreds."

Aziz said he hoped Obama would repair some of the damage that was done under the administration of George W.Bush.

"But Obama is a hypocrite. He is leaving Iraq to the wolves," he said.