Saudi press blames Iraq PM’s ‘sectarianism’ for unrest
Relations between Riyadh and Iran-backed Maliki have been strained
Newspapers in Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia on Sunday blamed Shiite Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki for unrest sweeping his country, saying his “sectarian” polices are taking Iraq to a “devastating civil war.”
Militants spearheaded by powerful jihadist group the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and joined by supporters of executed dictator Saddam Hussein, have since Monday overrun a large chunk of northern and north-central Iraq.
“Policies of sectarianism and monopolization of power that have been followed by Maliki... have led Iraq to the brink of a devastating civil war,” Alriyadh newspaper wrote.
Relations between Riyadh and Iran-backed Maliki have been strained. In March, Maliki accused the kingdom and neighboring Qatar of supporting terrorism, a charge that drew harsh criticism from Riyadh.
“It is inevitable that a new political leadership enjoying a broad national consensus should be sought if (Iraq) wants to avoid sliding into a war similar to the one raging in neighboring Syria,” Alriyadh said.
Iraqis should be wary of “the fire of sectarianism that would burn everyone,” the daily said.
Saudi columnist Abderrahman al-Rashed also lashed out at Maliki, accusing him of doing anything to stay in power.
“Nuri al-Maliki is worse, and more dangerous, than ISIS and Qaeda. He is a bad person that is ready to commit massacres in order to stay in power,” he wrote in Asharq Al-Awsat.
He argued that ISIS is only part of the uprising that includes a “majority” of Sunni Arab tribes and former military personnel disbanded after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 that toppled Saddam.
“The presence of ISIL could not hide the main factors in Iraq’s conflict: a third of the population are punished by the regime for sectarian” reasons, he wrote, referring to the Sunni Arab minority, mostly disgruntled since the regime changed.
Al-Jazirah daily also accused Maliki’s of sectarianism.
“Maliki says he failed because of a conspiracy... This is a bad excuse, because this person is sectarian up to his neck,” it wrote.
-
Syria, Iraq team up, strike ISIS bases
The Syrian army in coordination with Baghdad is striking bases of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in border areas News -
Saudi Arabia: Fighting terror a global responsibility
Saudi's permanent representative to the U.N. expressed the Kingdom’s deep sorrow over the events in Iraq Middle East -
Do the Iraq rebels belong to ISIS, the Baath party, or clans?
Nouri al-Maliki is worse, and more dangerous, than ISIS and al-Qaeda. He is a bad person that is ready to commit massacres in order to stay in power Middle East -
Iran ‘sends 2,000 troops’ to help Maliki in Iraq
Iranian President Hassan Rowhani said Saturday his country was ready to help Iraq fight the al-Qaeda-inspired ISIS militants Middle East -
ISIS ‘achievements’ in Iraq and Syria a gift to the Iranian negotiator?
How will the Obama administration engage Iran over Iraq, after ISIS routed the Iraqi army and forced it to withdraw from Mosul? Middle East -
Blair: 2003 Iraq invasion not to blame for crisis
Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said last week that violence in Iraq show ‘failure’ of the U.S. invasion in 2003 World News -
ISIS’s destruction of Iraq: Impact on the Gulf littoral
Will the Gulf be caught up in the sectarian discourse prevalent during the 2000s in Iraq when identity was measured by religion? Middle East