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Iraq says Saudi backs unity government
[Al Arabiya Latest] Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on a visit to Saudi Arabia on Sunday said King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz expressed his wish for a government comprising all Iraq's politicians after an indecisive March 7 general election."The aspiration of all Arabs is that all Iraqis will participate in the running of their country," said the king, according to a statement issued by Talabani's office. "The king said that Saudi Arabia stands at the same distance from all Iraqi parties and that the kingdom supports Iraq without interfering in its internal affairs," the statement added. Talabani was greeted at Riyadh international airport by Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, the official SPA news agency reported, while politicians in Baghdad continued negotiations over the formation of a new government. Talabani's arrival followed a denial by Saud on Saturday that the Saudi government was meddling in the post-election politicking in Iraq in support of former premier Iyad Allawi. Saudi Arabia is a major regional rival of Iran and has been eager to see a reduction in Tehran's influence in Baghdad. Riyadh has had troubled relations with incumbent Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and has refused to establish a formal diplomatic representation in the Iraqi capital, citing security concerns. Relations with Allawi, who leads an alliance including Sunni and secular Shiite parties, are believed to be better. The former premier visited Riyadh for talks with King Abdullah on the eve of the March election in which his Iraqiya bloc went on to secure a narrow lead over Maliki's State of Law Alliance. Posted by: Fred 2010-04-13 |
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