| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iraq |
| Saudi denies interference in Iraqi elections |
| 2010-04-12 |
| [Al Arabiya Latest] Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal denied his country boosted Iraq's former premier Iyad Allawi in last month's election, a Saudi-owned newspaper said Sunday. "We do not interfere in (Iraq's) internal affairs. We support all Iraqis, and Iraq's unity, independence and sovereignty over its territory, and we maintain the same distance from all politicians," Saud told the London-based Asharq Alawsat. Critics have linked Allawi's visit to Riyadh and meeting with King Abdullah on the eve of the March 7 general election with his Iraqiya bloc's narrow victory over Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's State of Law Alliance. While the Saudis made no direct comments on the polls at the time, relations between Riyadh and Maliki's government have been strained and the Saudis have refused to establish a formal diplomatic representation in Baghdad, citing security concerns. Saudi Arabia is most concerned about Iran's potential influence over any Baghdad administration. Observers have speculated that Riyadh could upgrade relations if Allawi, whose Iraqiya has the support of both Sunni Iraqis and some secular Shiites, is successful in forming a parliamentary majority. On March 30 Allawi accused Iran of conspiring to deny him the premiership, but is now planning to send representatives to Tehran for talks next week, according to Iranian ambassador to Iraq Hassan Kazemi Qomi. Asked about the post-election visit to Riyadh by representatives of the Sadrist movement loyal to Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, Prince Saud said the Saudi government welcomes visits by any Iraqi political leaders. |
| Posted by:Fred |