The Iraqi national intelligence service is seeking damages from the Guardian over a story by Ghaith Abdul-Ahad which characterised prime minister Nouri al-Maliki as increasingly autocratic.
The story included interviews with three unnamed Iraqi national intelligence sources, who said elements of Maliki’s rule resembled a dictatorship.
The national intelligence service said the story was “false and defamatory”, and also demanded that Abdul-Ahad reveal the identity of his sources,
Guardian editor-in-chief Alan Rusbridger said: “We are disappointed that prime minister Maliki has launched this misguided action against the Guardian. We will, of course, contest it.”
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog
