Washington (AFP) Oct 17, 2010 - Former Iraqi prime minister Iyad Allawi on Sunday accused Iran of trying to "wreak havoc" across the entire Middle East and interfering in Iraq's political process. In an interview with CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS," Allawi said the region was "falling victim" to extremist groups financed by Tehran. "We know that unfortunately Iran is trying to wreak havoc on the region, and trying to destabilize the region by destabilizing Iraq, and destabilizing Lebanon and destabilizing the Palestinian issue," Allawi said. "And this is where unfortunately Iraq and the rest of the greater Mideast is falling victim to these terrorists who are definitely Iran-financed and supported by various governments in the region."
Allawi's Iraqiya political bloc earned 91 seats in Iraq's March 7 elections. two more than the State of Law alliance headed by current Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. The two parties have been locked in a battle for control of the 325-member Council of Representatives, shuffling through potential coalitions that could win them power. Allawi, a moderate Shiite whose political grouping attracted support from Sunnis, said Iran was interfering in Iraq's political process. "Definitely in Iraq I can say categorically that Iran is trying even to bring about change to the political process according to their wishes and requirements."
He declined to directly accuse Tehran of a hand in a recent deadly attack on members of Iraqiya, saying there were various parties "who are trying to sabotage the political process." But he denied that other countries in the region were pressuring him or interfering in Iraq's political wrangling, adding that Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah had offered strong support for an inclusive, representative government. "So I don't believe that there are leaders in the region who are trying to fuel extremism and bring about sectarianism; unfortunately, only Iran," Allawi said.
No comments:
Post a Comment