Chalabi party criticizes Jordan

A spokesman for the Iraqi National Congress led by Ahmed Chalabi has criticized Jordan, accusing it of sheltering associates to Saddam Hussein, smuggling oil, and interfering in the internal affairs of Iraq.

Intiqad Qanbar criticized the Jordanian government because of "sheltering the two daughters of Saddam Hussein, and son of Tareq Aziz, and several figures from the former regime." He said in a press conference "those persons spend money from Iraq that was stolen by the toppled regime, and harass the Iraqis who expressed happiness over the fall of Saddam. Besides, they are financing terrorism," asking for handing them over to the Iraq.

Qanbar also criticized "Jordan's intervention in the internal affairs of Iraq." He described the statements made by the Jordanian foreign minister on the role of the Sunni as "unacceptable ." He also accused Jordan of organizing the smuggling of oil.

These came as the chairman of the Jordanian bar association Hussein Majli announcement that more than 600 Jordanian lawyers have so far volunteered to defend the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein when his trial begins.