Iraqi PM Nuri Maliki accuses Iraqi politicians of being behind recent spate of assassinations

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Tuesday accused Iraqi politicians of being behind a recent spate of assassinations of senior military and civilian officials.

Maliki did not name any specific individuals, but he said political parties and security guards were involved.

"Recently, the number of assassinations has increased," he told reporters at a news conference in Baghdad. "Certainly, this is the work of Al-Qaeda, but there have also been political assassinations and we will publicly denounce those who are behind the killings, their security guards and their political parties."

Meanwhile, the Iraqi premier said Iraq is lacking when it comes to protecting its borders with just months to go before US forces leave.

"In terms of the level of the external defense of Iraqi sovereignty, Iraq has a shortfall," Maliki told reporters at a news conference in Baghdad. "These forces will not be complete in one or two years because they need a lot of money and training, especially in terms of air defense. But there is no danger for Iraq."

"No neighbor of Iraq wants to enter Iraq by force. So our sovereignty is protected, especially in light of the circumstances and changes in the region."

The Iraqi premier noted that were any country to invade, Iraq had "the ability to defend our country. I do not think that Iraq's police and army are weak."

He said he would hold talks with other Iraqi politicians after returning from a four-day trip to South Korea in early May, and pledged that any decision would give US forces "enough time" to plan.