Maliki: Saudi and Qatar at war against Iraq

Maliki, a Shia, has in the past blamed unnamed regional countries and
neighbours for destabilising Iraq, the AFP news agency reported.


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


"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," he said.


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


Saudi Arabia and Qatar have emerged as regional rivals because, while
both have provided support to fighters opposed to embattled Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad, the two countries have also sparred in recent
weeks over Doha's support for the Muslim Brotherhood of deposed
Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi.



Maliki: Saudi and Qatar at war against Iraq - Middle East - Al Jazeera English