Iraqi judiciary probes leaked audios attributed to ex-premier

BAGHDAD (AA) – The Iraqi judiciary has launched an investigation into leaked audios attributed to former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in which he attacked Iraqi politicians.

Iraqi journalist Ali Fadel earlier published audios allegedly attributed to al-Maliki during a meeting in which he termed Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr as “murderer” and “thief.”

The former premier also allegedly accused Masoud Barzani, the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, of plotting against Shias by embracing displaced Sunnis.

The Supreme Judicial Council, which supervises the federal judiciary in Iraq, said it “will take all legal measures” regarding the leaked audios.

“The investigation into the leaks is being conducted in accordance with law,” it added in a statement carried by the state news agency.

Al-Maliki, who heads the State of Law coalition, had served as Iraq’s prime minister from 2006 till 2014.

On Sunday, the former premier denied the authenticity of the audios.

On Monday, al-Sadr called on al-Maliki to step down from politics and surrender himself to the judiciary.

The leaks came amid a political crisis in Iraq over failure to form a new government and elect a new president since the country’s general elections last year.

* Writing by Bassel Barakat