Iraqi PM pins funds row to rivals

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Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has accused his rivals of taking foreign money to fund political campaigns.

"Election campaigns, other than that of my party's, are funded by foreign countries. This poses a problem," he said in an interview with the BBC.

It is not currently illegal for parties to receive foreign funding, but critics say funds from Arab countries and Iran are fuelling a sectarian split in Iraq.

The accusation comes just days before a scheduled election.

He didn't specify which countries he was referring to.

"We reject and condemn foreign funding for parties," Mr Maliki said.

The issue is connected to the sectarian divide in Iraqi politics, with Sunni parties accusing Shia of taking money from Iran, and Shia parties accusing Sunnis of taking money from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other Arab countries.

Well known

Parties have been pointing the finger at each other over foreign funding for some time, but it is not actually illegal to receive funds from a foreign country.

Millions of dollars have allegedly been pumped into Iraqi parties, BBC correspondents say.

Parliament's inability to pass laws that would prevent such funding have been attributed by pro-democracy campaigners to the widespread nature of funding from foreign sources.

Parliamentary elections are due to be held on Sunday 7 March.

Mr Maliki is the leader of the Shia Islamic Dawa party, which is part of the State of Law coalition which purports to cut across tribal lines.

He has been prime minister since 2006.