Bankers in the West may feel they are unfairly criticised for their huge salaries and post-bonus splurges but their perceived woes pale in comparison to the tribulations faced by some of their counterparts in war-torn Iraq.

Sir Claude Hankes, an adviser to Iraq since 2003, has written an open letter to Iraqi President Jalal Talabani saying that corruption charges levelled against the founder and president of the Trade Bank of Iraq, Hussein Isam Al Uzri, are simply a political ploy to give Prime Minister Nouri Al-Malik control of the bank.