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| Iraq | |
| Iraqi MPs blast Riyadh's multi-billion terror plan | |
| 2009-08-20 | |
| Iraqi lawmakers hurl criticism at Saudi Arabia for funding efforts to destabilize Iraq and inciting its Sunni Muslim community against Baghdad. "There are regional powers that pay billions of dollars ... to push for the failure of Iraq's democracy," said senior lawmaker Haidar al-Ibadi of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Dawa party. Ibadi blamed "a multi-billion dollar plan by Saudi Arabia and other states" for a hike in terrorist attacks across the country, aimed at shaking people's confidence in the Shia-led government ahead of the January polls. A member of parliament's foreign relations panel, citing intelligence reports, accused Saudi Arabia of making efforts to incite insurgents and to wield political influence by financing Shia, Sunni and Kurdish politicians and tribal leaders. "Saudi Arabia is not happy that Shias lead this country," said Sami al-Askari, adding that Egypt and Jordan were also meddling in Iraq's affairs. Kurdish lawmaker Adel Berwari -- a member of parliament's security and defense committee -- confirmed the remarks made by the fellow deputies, saying he had received the same information. Maliki on Saturday repeated his criticism of neighboring countries and said those spending money to weaken Iraq would fail. The comments follow an earlier report published by Nahrainnet website, accusing Wahhabi Saudi Arabia of employing Ba'athists and al-Qaeda terrorist groups to carry out terror acts in Iraq to eliminate Shia faith in the country. Unlike most Arab states, Saudi Arabia has so far refrained from opening an embassy in Iraq. "There is no indication Saudi Arabia will open an embassy in Baghdad anytime soon. The Saudis think Maliki is too close to Iran," a diplomat in Saudi Arabia told Reuters on condition of anonymity. According to Iraqi security officials, many foreign insurgents caught in Iraq are Saudi nationals.
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| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 "Ibadi blamed "a multi-billion dollar plan by Saudi Arabia and other states" for a hike in terrorist attacks across the country, aimed at shaking people's confidence in the Shia-led government ahead of the January polls. Now if only Mr Obadi were as concerned about Irans attempts at building influence. |
| Posted by: liberal hawk 2009-08-20 16:33 |