Iraq's prime minister Nuri al-Maliki verbally lashed out today at US Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton who had called for him to be replaced.
In a sign of increased tension between him and Washington, Mr Maliki also criticised the US military for killing civilians.
"There are American officials who consider Iraq as if it were one of their villages, for example Hillary Clinton and Carl Levin," Mr Maliki told a news conference.
"This is severe interference in our domestic affairs. Carl Levin and Hillary Clinton are from the Democratic Party and they must demonstrate democracy," he said. "I ask them to come to their senses and to talk in a respectful way about Iraq."
Ms Clinton, a leading candidate to succeed George W Bush as president, joined Levin, the head of the Senate's Armed Services Committee, in calling last week for Iraq's parliament to replace Maliki for failing to reconcile warring sects.
Mr Maliki criticised the US military for killing civilians during raids in Shi'ite areas of Baghdad, which have provoked demonstrations by mourners and condemnation from Shi'ite groups.
"We have said this many times before. When you want to arrest someone it is not acceptable to go there and kill another 10 innocent people or destroy houses. These are violations."
Washington's relations with Mr Maliki have frayed in recent weeks, although Mr Bush says he backs the Iraqi prime minister.