A senior U.S. official said here Tuesday that corruption is a reality and a major problem in Iraq, and is a very serious concern to the United States.
"I want to make very clear here. Corruption is a reality in Iraq. It is a major problem and it is not one that we have ever attempted to diminish the importance of, to cover, to mask or to protect," said David Satterfield, senior advisor to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and coordinator for Iraq.
"Iraqis at every level have failed to put the nation's interest ahead of sectarian, tribal, personal, particularist agenda," he said, adding that although it does not mean every Iraqi political figure and every Iraqi person in a position of authority is corrupt.
Public corruption in Iraq is a very serious concern to the United States, Satterfield said.
The Bush administration has defended Iraqi government headed by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and said the Iraqi government is working hard to battle against corruption.
The U.S. embassy in Iraq has released a report painting a gloomy picture of graft in all government departments in Iraq.
Source: Xinhua
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