Saudi Arabia Warns Iraq That Failure To Accomodate Sunnis Risks Even More Violence And Sectarianism

Prince Saud Al-Faisal. Saudi Gazette

Sectarianism Will Prolong Instability In Iraq: Saudi Arabia -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Saudi Arabia on Saturday warned Iraq against sectarian extremism after two weeks of protests by Sunni Muslims against Baghdad's Shi'ite-led government.

The street protests across Iraq's Sunni heartland have strained the Arab state's fragile political balance and renewed fears of intensified sectarian strife.

"We are convinced that Iraq will not stabilize until it starts handling issues without sectarian extremism... Until these issues are addressed, we don't think there will ever be stability in Iraq, which pains us," Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal told a news conference in Riyadh.

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My Comment: This is a Saudi message to the Iraqi government that they must accommodate the Sunni population or risk even more violence and sectarianism.

Will Saudi Intervention Break Iraq's Political Deadlock

Saudi King Offers Talks To Break Iraq Deadlock -- BBC

Saudi Arabia's king has invited the leaders of Iraq's political blocs for talks in Riyadh aimed at breaking the deadlock over forming a new government.

King Abdullah suggested they meet after the Hajj pilgrimage in November.

A Sunni-backed bloc led by Iyad Allawi edged PM Nouri Maliki's Shia alliance in elections in March.

But neither bloc has been able to form a coalition and Iraq now holds the world record for the longest time without a government.

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More On Saudi Arabia's Involvement In Resolving Iraq's Political Crisis

Riyadh seeks to break Iraq deadlock -- Al Jazeera
Saudi king offers to host talks to end political stalemate in Iraq -- CNN
Saudi invites Iraqis to Riyadh for talks on forming govt -- AFP
Saudi offers to host talks on Iraq political crisis -- Reuters

My Comment: In the past 8 months everything else has been tried .... so might as well try this.

Update: Iraq's Shi'ite politicians turn down Saudi offer -- Reuters

2nd Comment: The Sunni - Shiite split on full display.