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Parliament to blame

Maliki blames Parliament for country's woes

Iraq's prime minister Thursday defended his government's performance in the face of protesters demanding more jobs, better services and less corruption - charging that lawmakers were just as much to blame for the crisis, QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA reports for The Associated Press.

The protests have shaken Iraqi leaders, who worry the outcry will only worsen as Iraq's scorching hot summer approaches, with sporadic electricity supplies underlining the government's inability to ensure basic services for its people.

Lawmakers criticized his performance Thursday in the parliament, saying they were unfairly blamed for the country's ills.