Iraq's former Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi condemns his country's judiciary.<br/> <br />He denounces the death sentence handed down to him in absentia by an Iraqi court over murder charges, calling the move politically motivated<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) IRAQ'S FUGITIVE VICE PRESIDENT TAREQ HASHEMI SAYING:<br/> <br />"Yesterday Prime Minister Maliki and his politicized judiciary concluded the final phase of the theatrical campaign against me using a kangaroo court set up for this purpose."<br/> <br />He affirmed his innocence and added that Iraqis must band together to prevent new sectarian violence prompted by the court's trumped up charges.<br/> <br />But Iraqis fear further violence is likely a day after a series of bombs ripped through the country, killing at least 100 people.<br/> <br />This Baghdad resident says he worries that Iraqi courts are charging officials, fuelled by political or sectarian motivations.<br/> <br />Hashemi is accused of murdering a female lawyer and security official along with his son in law.<br/> <br />The ex-vice president is a long time critic of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who he accused of controlling the judiciary and issuing crackdowns on Sunni Muslim opponents.<br/> <br />Hashemi fled the country in December when authorities issued an arrest warrant and is unlikely to return to Iraq to face the charges.
