Bahrain summons Iraqi diplomat over statements by ex-PM Maliki

Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry summoned the deputy charge d’affaires of the embassy of Iraq on Monday to denounce footage of former Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s making statements that Bahrain said are a clear violation and rejected interference in the country’s internal affairs.

Maliki who now heads an Iraqi coalition called “the State of Law”, attended a meeting last week organized by the February 14 movement, an opposition group which Manama designated a terrorist group in 2014.

Bahrain described Maliki’s statements as “blatant and unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of Bahrain”, state news agency (BNA) reported.

“(A Bahraini official) described Maliki’s attitude as a clear solidarity with those who seek to spread chaos, violence and terrorism and exhibit hatred,” BNA said.

Iraq’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment but it was expected to issue a statement.

Bahraini Undersecretary of Regional & GCC Affairs, Waheed Mubarak Sayyar expressed to the Iraqi diplomat Bahrain’s strong dismissal and disapproval of the statements issued by Maliki.

Sayyar told the Iraqi diplomat that such irresponsible statements represent a clear violation of the international conventions and principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states, BNA reported.

He also called on the Iraqi government to oppose such statements, refrain from hosting similar seminars and rallies for organizations classified as terrorist organizations or harboring them on its territory.

- With Reuters