Tariq al-Hashemi, the fugitive Iraqi vice-president has rejected the verdict and death sentence of a court in Baghdad, claiming it was politically motivated.
Talking at a press conference in Turkey, Hashemi said he was innocent and that the charges were ‘politically motivated’ against him.
"The verdict is unjust, politicised, illegitimate and I will not recognise it,
"But I put it as a medal of honour on my chest because it was al-Maliki, not anyone else, behind it. I'm proud that it is al-Maliki, and not anyone else, to target me.
"I reiterate that I'm innocent, and am ready to stand before a fair judicial system and not a corrupt one that is under al-Maliki's influence."
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