Iraqi prime minister promises 1,000 new hospitals, clinics

Nuri al-MalikiBaghdad - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Monday promised to build more than 1,000 new hospitals and medical clinics, Iraqi state television reported.

Speaking after laying the cornerstone at one such hospital in the central Iraqi city of Hilla, al-Maliki said the world economic crisis would not stop the government from rebuilding the health care system, which has been ravished by years of war.

"Iraqis have been deprived of development these last, long years," al-Maliki said. "We are determined to continue reconstructing the country despite all hardships."

He did not give a time-frame for the construction of the new health facilities.

"Security and stability now reign in Iraq, despite the efforts of supporters of terrorism and sabotage," the Iraqi prime minister said.(dpa)