Finger-pointing greets bombings in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- A key member of the Iraqiya political bloc in Iraq said the prime minister was manufacturing a crisis in the country, adding he was out of political patience.

Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq, a leading member of the Sunni-backed Iraqiya slate, suggested it was Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki who was to blame for the political crisis in the country.

"Those who created the crisis are the one who wanted their ally, the United States, to stay," he told al-Arabiya.

Mutlaq earlier described Maliki as a "dictator." Iraqiya, led by former interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, walked out of Parliament earlier after an arrest warrant was issued for Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi.

Mutlaq, since taking office last December, said he was frustrated with the political climate in Iraq but was bent on creating a more "workable" government. Iraqiya won the most seats in parliamentary elections last year but was unable to create a coalition and form a government.

"I represent a bloc that has 91 seats in the Parliament, while Maliki's represents 89," he said in his interview.

The political flare-up coincides with the departure of U.S. forces from Iraq after more than eight years of war.

The Arab news agency reports that Iraq's Interior Ministry said at least 11 separate attacks struck Baghdad as the political tensions escalated Thursday, leaving dozens dead.

Allawi, in a press statement, said political distractions were to blame for the string of attacks. He said it showed security and intelligence services weren't up to the task of national defense.