US Democrats blast Maliki on Israel statements

WASHINGTON, July 25 (Reuters) US congressional Democrats voiced alarm today over Iraq's denunciation of Israel in West Asia conflict, and some said Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's upcoming address to Congress should be canceled unless he apologizes.

A group of House of Representatives Democrats was circulating a letter to House Speaker Dennis Hastert urging the Illinois Republican to secure an apology from Maliki or cancel the address tomorrow to a joint meeting of Congress.

Ron Bonjean, Hastert's spokesman, said there was no intention to cancel Maliki's speech, and accused Democrats of ''political gamesmanship during an election year.'' Iraq's US-backed government on Saturday denounced Israel's ''criminal'' raids on Lebanon and Gaza and warned that violence could escalate across the West A sia.

Senate Democrats in a letter to Maliki said his failure to condemn Hizbollah's ''aggression and recognize Israel's right to defend itself raise serious questions about whether Iraq under your leadership can play a constructive role in resolving the current crisis and bringing stability to the West Asia.'' With more than 2,500 US service members killed in the Iraq conflict, more than 18,000 wounded and more than 300 billion dollars in US tax dollars spent, the Senate Democrats said, ''Americans deserve to know whether Iraq in an ally in these fights.'' REUTERS MQA PM2134