00:00Iraq's leading prime ministerial candidate Nouriel Maliki has accused the United States
00:05of blatant interference in the country's political process.
00:10This criticism comes after President Donald Trump warned that Washington will cut all your
00:15US support if Al Maliki returns to office.
00:20The United States has played a role in Iraqi politics since leading the
00:252003 invasion that removed former President Saddam Hussein.
00:30Trump said Iraq would be making a serious mistake by appointing Al Maliki.
00:35According to his previous term as prime minister from 2006 to 2014,
00:40when relations with Washington deteriorated amid closer ties to Iran and Al-
00:45obligations of secretarian governance, Al Maliki pushed back.
00:50He was arguing that foreign pressure undermines national sovereignty and interferes with decisions
00:55that should be made solely by Iraqi political institutions.
01:00The United States also spilled onto the streets where hundreds of supporters gathered near the U.S.
01:05embassy in Baghdad voicing their support for Al Maliki and condemning Trump's remarks.
01:10Prime Minister of the United States
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