20 killed despite Iraqi PM’s peace plea

IRAQI Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki yesterday called for Shi’ites and Sunnis to use the Islamic holy month of Ramadan to put aside their differences, while authorities reported that at least 20 people were killed in violence across the country.

Al-Maliki’s plea for peace came the same day as Saddam Hussein’s defence team said they would boycott the ousted dictator’s trial, and a day after a retaliatory bombing killed dozens of Shi’ites in the capital.

Meanwhile, violence persisted across Iraq despite heightened security for Ramadan.