Saudi Arabia and Qatar in ‘war on Iraq’: Maliki

BAGHDAD: Saudi Arabia and Qatar are supporting militant groups in Iraq and have effectively declared war on the country, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said.

The rare direct attack on the Gulf powers, with Maliki also accusing Riyadh of supporting global terrorism, comes with Iraq embroiled in its worst prolonged period of bloodshed since 2008, with more than 1,800 people killed already this year, ahead of parliamentary elections due next month.

Maliki has in the past blamed unnamed regional countries and neighbours for destabilising Iraq.

But in an interview with France 24 broadcast on Saturday, the Iraqi premier said allegations he was marginalising were being pushed by "sectarians with ties to foreign agendas, with Saudi and Qatari incitement".

Referring to the two countries, he said: "They are attacking Iraq, through Syria and in a direct way, and they announced war on Iraq, as they announced it on Syria, and unfortunately it is on a sectarian and political basis."

"These two countries are primarily responsible for the sectarian and terrorist and security crisis of Iraq."

Maliki said in the interview that Riyadh and Doha were providing political, financial and media support to militant groups and accused them of "buying weapons for the benefit of these terrorist organisations". (AFP)