BAGHDAD — Iraq's prime minister accused neighboring states on Monday of meddling in his country's internal affairs in efforts to influence government building after March 7 elections produced no clear winner.
Nouri al-Maliki told a government committee meeting he was upset to hear representatives of neighboring states talking on television as if they were Iraq's "guardians".
"Our message is clear: do not interfere in our affairs," al-Maliki said.
He didn't specify which of Iraq's six neighbors — Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Syria or Turkey — he was referring to.
"We want good relations with our friends, brothers, Arab neighbors, Muslim neighbors," he stressed.
But, he added "such good relations can only be built on the basis of mutual respect, noninterference in internal affairs and the end of paternalism".
The election left al-Maliki's State of Law coalition trailing former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's Iraqiya alliance by two seats. Neither side won enough to govern alone and has been scrambling to cobble together a coalition.
Both coalitions, as well as other parties, have been rallying neighboring countries for support.
Al-Maliki has led a government dominated by religious Shiites for the past four years, while Allawi, a secular Shiite, drew most of his support from the country's Sunni minority on a campaign pledge that he was looking to transcend ethnic and sectarian divides.
Both coalitions, as well as other political parties have been holding talks with neighbors in the wake of the balloting.
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani met Sunday in Saudi Arabia with King Abdullah and other officials in the influential Sunni powerhouse. Ahead of the trip, Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said the kingdom plays no favorites and views Iraq's political blocs from "the same distance".
Tehran's ambassador in Baghdad said Saturday that all political blocs — including Sunnis — should play a role in the new Iraqi government. The statement was unusual for a representative of Iran, which traditionally backs fellow Shiites in Iraq.
Al-Maliki made a veiled allegation Monday that other countries were trying to influence the probe of some 750,000 ballots his party has questioned.
"Leave Iraqis to present their complaints and to judge these complaints according to law," he said, again without identifying specific countries.
Al-Maliki has tried to dispel fears that Sunnis would be neglected by a Shiite-led government. He spoke Monday at a meeting of the Committee for National Reconciliation with former Sunni fighters known as Sons of Iraq who sided with American forces against al-Qaida.
Many of the fighters were former insurgents who switched sides, but al-Maliki said recent attacks against them by al-Qaida in Iraq show that they are to be "trusted" by the government.
"We promise that we and the security services will be on your side," al-Maliki said.
Associated Press Writer Bushra Juhi contributed to this report
Associated Press
