Al Maliki appeals for patience as angry lawmakers demand answers
Deadly bombings raise tough questions about ability of security forces to check violence
Baghdad: The prime minister appealed on Wednesday to Iraqis to stand by their security forces, even as angry lawmakers demanded answers and called on top officials to resign following the third massive attack against government sites since summer.
Nouri Al Maliki asked Iraqis for patience and warned against fomenting political divisions following Tuesday's string of suicide bombings that killed at least 127 people and wounded over 500 in the Iraqi capital.
Iraqi lawmakers, meanwhile, demanded officials appear before a special parliamentary session due today to answer questions how bombers once again found holes in security in heavily guarded central Baghdad.
"I call on the Iraqi people for more patience and steadfastness," Al Maliki said in a televised address on state television.
The deadly bombings raised tough questions for Al Maliki about the abilities of Iraq's security forces ahead of next year's withdrawal of US combat troops. The US military has warned of a possible rise in violence ahead of the March 7 elections.
The parliament speaker called on the ministers of defence and interior to appear before the special session.
