Iraq condemns report U.S. spied on PM Maliki

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A report that the United States spied on Iraqi officials shows a lack of trust and casts a shadow over relations with U.S. intelligence agencies, the Iraqi government said on Friday.

The Washington Post said on Friday that a book by U.S. journalist Bob Woodward reported that the United States spied on Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and other Iraqi leaders.

"If it is true ... it reflects that there is no trust," government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said in a statement, adding that Iraq would ask the United States for an explanation.

"If it is true it casts a shadow on the future relations with such institutions," he said, referring to the Central Intelligence Agency and other U.S. agencies.

(Writing by Mohammed Abbas: Editing by Andrew Dobbie)