Iraq Boycotts Talks After Egyptian Leader's Remarks
By Associated Press
April 12, 2006
BAGHDAD — Iraq won't participate in a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo on the efforts to stabilize the country because of recent remarks by Egypt's president questioning the loyalty of Shiites, Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari said Tuesday.
During an interview with Al-Arabiya television that aired Saturday, President Hosni Mubarak angered Iraqi leaders by saying Shiites in Iraq and the Middle East are more loyal to Iran than to their own countries. He also said Iraq was on the brink of civil war.
“We have taken a decision not to participate in the conference” today, al-Jaafari said after criticizing Mubarak's comments.
Mubarak's remarks reflect a concern among Arab leaders that Iran has too much influence in Iraq and that its Islamic theocracy could spill over into their largely Sunni countries. Iraq is one of the few Arab nations with a Shiite majority like that in Iran, a non-Arab country.
Al-Jaafari, who is a Shiite, complained that the Egyptians had still not provided a satisfactory explanation for the comments. He said Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari would not take part in the Cairo meeting.
The boycott of today's meeting in Cairo may signal a deepening rift between Iraq's Shiite- and Kurdish-led government and Sunni-led Arab nations, including regional powerhouse Egypt.
“Definitely Iran has influence for Shiites,” Mubarak said in the interview. “Shiites are 65% of the Iraqis. … Most of the Shiites are loyal to Iran, and not to the countries they are living in,” he added.
Meanwhile, three American soldiers were killed Tuesday north of Baghdad by a roadside bomb, the U.S. military said. The military also said a soldier died Monday of wounds suffered the day before in fighting in Anbar province west of the capital. Another soldier was killed Sunday when his vehicle was hit by a blast near Balad.
In Baghdad, a car bombing killed five people, and three others died when a bomb exploded on a minibus, police told the Associated Press. Both attacks were in Shiite areas of the capital, the authorities said.
Police also said they found the bodies of 24 people, apparent victims of death squads. Most of the bodies were found in Baghdad.
April 12, 2006
BAGHDAD — Iraq won't participate in a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo on the efforts to stabilize the country because of recent remarks by Egypt's president questioning the loyalty of Shiites, Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari said Tuesday.
During an interview with Al-Arabiya television that aired Saturday, President Hosni Mubarak angered Iraqi leaders by saying Shiites in Iraq and the Middle East are more loyal to Iran than to their own countries. He also said Iraq was on the brink of civil war.
“We have taken a decision not to participate in the conference” today, al-Jaafari said after criticizing Mubarak's comments.
Mubarak's remarks reflect a concern among Arab leaders that Iran has too much influence in Iraq and that its Islamic theocracy could spill over into their largely Sunni countries. Iraq is one of the few Arab nations with a Shiite majority like that in Iran, a non-Arab country.
Al-Jaafari, who is a Shiite, complained that the Egyptians had still not provided a satisfactory explanation for the comments. He said Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari would not take part in the Cairo meeting.
The boycott of today's meeting in Cairo may signal a deepening rift between Iraq's Shiite- and Kurdish-led government and Sunni-led Arab nations, including regional powerhouse Egypt.
“Definitely Iran has influence for Shiites,” Mubarak said in the interview. “Shiites are 65% of the Iraqis. … Most of the Shiites are loyal to Iran, and not to the countries they are living in,” he added.
Meanwhile, three American soldiers were killed Tuesday north of Baghdad by a roadside bomb, the U.S. military said. The military also said a soldier died Monday of wounds suffered the day before in fighting in Anbar province west of the capital. Another soldier was killed Sunday when his vehicle was hit by a blast near Balad.
In Baghdad, a car bombing killed five people, and three others died when a bomb exploded on a minibus, police told the Associated Press. Both attacks were in Shiite areas of the capital, the authorities said.
Police also said they found the bodies of 24 people, apparent victims of death squads. Most of the bodies were found in Baghdad.
posted by Hanan Elbadry at 10:13 AM
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