Iraq Vice President denies charges

Iraq’s Sunni vice president wanted by the Shiite-led government for allegedly ordering hit squads against government officials has said he is innocent of any charges.

Tariq al-Hashemi told a press conference in the northern city of Irbil that he has not committed any “sin” against Iraq.

He described the charges against him as “fabricated”.

The announcement of the warrant against al-Hashemi has hiked tensions between Sunnis and Shiites just two days after the last US soldiers withdrew from the country.

Iraqi officials yesterday accused al-Hashemi of running a hit squad that killed government officials.

Al-Hashemi is in Iraq’s semi-autonomous northern Kurdish region and is not in custody.