Maliki may demote Iraqi foreign minister, Arabia Net
BAGHDAD/ Aswat al-Iraq: Close circles to Iraqi premier Nouri al-Maliki reported that he may demote his defence minister Saadoun Dulaimi, and others, for suspicions of corruption in the Russian arms deal.
The news, reported by Arabia Net, added that Maliki is awaiting the results of the investigations, formed by the Iraqi Parliament.
The Russian arms deal was stopped following reports that commissions were paid for Iraqi and Russian officials to pass the deal, which are estimated tens of millions of dollars.
The sources said that Maliki's advisors suggested demotion of Dulaimi for his role in the deal and not following the details of the negotiations before signing the contract, which led to corruption violations.
Interior, defence and national security ministries are run on acting basis since the formation of the government in December, 2010.
It is expected that the Iraqi parliament will expose those behind the corruption of the Russian arms deal.
Iraqi acting defence minister Dulaimi announced last week that "if there are suspicions, I will bear the responsibility".
The Russian arms deal consisted of Mig 29 planes, 30 helicopters and ground-space rockets with a cost of 4.2 billion dollars.
Iraqi-Russian military cooperation dates back to 1958 where the value of deals reached to about 30.5 billion dollars till 1990, following the UN sanctions against Iraq, which were endorsed by the previous Soviet Union.
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