Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani spoke on Saturday of attempts to undermine and impede the work of his government.
His remarks were seen as an indirect response to accusations against employees in his office of involvement in a wire-tapping scandal that has rocked Iraq.
The PM was speaking at an event marking the Prophet Mohammed’s birthday.
He stressed the need to “adhere to the Sunnah to ward dangers away from Iraq and confront suspicious behaviors.”
Al-Sudani did not discuss the wire-tapping scandal, but he underlined the government’s commitment to prioritizing public interests and reforms as it runs state affairs.
“We have achieved clear successes that have been evident in all sectors in spite of attempts to tarnish the government’s image and efforts to undermine its work. We will not heed these attempts, but rather forge ahead with determination,” he vowed.
Observers interpreted al-Sudani's comments as an indirect message to the pro-Iran ruling Coordination Framework that has confronted the government over the wire-tapping scandal.
Trusted sources had told Asharq Al-Awsat last week that the Framework is determined to wage a “grinding” battle against al-Sudani to introduce radical change in the country.
Local media has been full of reports and speculation about the scandal, while the government has not offered any tangible evidence in the affair to quell the rumors and claims.
Al-Sudani also held a meeting with head of the Hikma movement Ammar al-Hakim, a major member of the Framework, for talks on political developments, said Hakim’s office.
Meanwhile, head of the State of Law coalition former PM Nouri al-Maliki underscored cooperation between political powers to “prevent any form of collapse” in Iraq.
Maliki, another member of the Framework, remarked that the “majority of countries and governments have to deal with crises... the government is usually the main player that resolves crises but it cannot confront them alone.”
Maliki has emerged as the main rival to al-Sudani in the wire-tapping scandal, hoping to oust him from political life altogether.
Asharq Al-Awsat reported last week that Maliki had demanded from al-Sudani that the government relinquish its jurisdiction over the head of intelligence and that control over the position be transferred to the Framework.
He also demanded that all members of al-Sudani's tribe be removed from state positions, the restructuring of the prime minister’s office and that al-Sudani pledge to refrain from running in the next elections, calling on him to also dissolve his political party
In return, al-Sudani will not be pressured to resign as prime minister.
