Kurdish lawmaker denies reports on describing Maliki as ‘new Saddam’

Arbil-Saddam ARBIL / IraqiNews.com: Deputy speaker of the Kurdish parliament, Kamal Karkouki, denied what the Associated Press quoted on his criticisms of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, asserting that he had not held any interview with the AP regarding this issue. Karkouki told IraqiNews.com news agency that he did not met with any AP correspondent or hold an interview with any news agency regarding this issue. The Associated Press had quoted Karkouki on February 14 as saying “We are trying to stop al-Maliki through peaceful means. I think he is a dangerous man. He is dangerous to Iraq and to democracy. He is another Saddam in Iraq.” The statements flared up anger reactions among Iraqi political leaders. SH (P)/SR 1