Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari warned against US interference in his country’s politics and defended his ties to a radical Shia militia an interview published in the Thursday edition of The New York Times. With backing from Shia parties, Jaafari is seeking to stay in office but his candidacy has proved contentious among parliamentary factions that have yet to agree on a national unity government three months after national elections. Jaafari told The Times that certain comments from US officials had undermined President George W Bush’s public stance in favour of democracy in Iraq. “There was a stand from both the American government and President Bush to promote a democratic policy and protect its interests,” he told the paper in an interview conducted in his Baghdad home. “But now there’s concern among the Iraqi people that the democratic process is being threatened.”Jaafari appeared to be referring to US concerns over his candidacy amid reports that US officials were actively lobbying for other figures who might be able to draw support from Kurdish and Sunni leaders, who oppose Jaafari.