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BAGHDAD: The chief of Iraq's anti-corruption watchdog has resigned, citing political interference in the performance of his duties, a spokesman said on Friday.
“Rahim Hassan al-Uqailee, the head of the Integrity Commission, submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, due to pressure from political parties,” an Integrity Commission spokesman told on condition of anonymity.
Uqailee, a 44-year-old judge who had led the Integrity Commission since January 2008, quit on Thursday.
In a February interview with AFP, Uqailee said that instead of fighting graft, Iraq's ministers prefer to hide departmental corruption, contributing to a major source of insurgent financing.
Iraq is rated by anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International as the world's fourth most corrupt country, with diplomats and local officials persistently citing widespread graft as a major obstacle to its development.
