Babil council member apologizes to contractors after remarks dispute

BABIL, Iraq — Babil Provincial Council member Mohammed al-Mansouri apologized on Sunday to contractors in Iraq, delivering the apology in an audio recording after a phone call with Hussein Sedhan al-Maliki, head of the Babylon Contractors Union. Al-Mansouri said his remarks were not directed at all contractors, but at some individuals involved in corruption cases. He accused those people of obtaining projects through illegal means and causing waste of public money. He also said honest and professional contractors who take part in carrying out projects should be supported. No further details about the remarks or the response from contractors were immediately available.