Allawi on US re last weekend's Iraq National Guard massacre: "Gross negligence."

"A terrible crime was committed in which a large number of the ING were martyred," Allawi said. "We think this shows, in addition to gross negligence on the side of some of the multi-national forces, it shows the kind of insistence to hurt Iraq and its people."

The rebuke was an unusual public condemnation of U.S.-led forces from the prime minister, who has such a cordial relationship with U.S. commanders and officials that he is often criticized by the Iraqi people for being too close to the Americans.

In a statement on Tuesday, the U.S. military called the massacre of the recruits "a cold-blooded and systematic move by terrorists" and said coalition forces were not responsible. The terrorists "and no one else must be held fully accountable for these attacks," the statement said. "The Iraqi interim government is investigating this tragic incident. Multinational forces will fully support and cooperate to establish the facts and avoid repetition of similar events."

Attempts to face-save all around?