Saudi Arabia and Qatar are destabilising Iraq by supporting militant groups and have effectively declared war on the country, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said in an interview broadcast today.
"They are attacking Iraq, through Syria and in a direct way, and they announced war on Iraq," the premier said in an interview with France 24, in a rare direct attack on the Sunni Gulf powers.
"These two countries are primarily responsible for the sectarian and terrorist and security crisis of Iraq."
Maliki, a Shiite Arab, said accusations that he was marginalising Iraq's Sunni minority, were being pushed by "sectarians with ties to foreign agendas with Saudi and Qatari incitement."
He said Riyadh and Doha were providing political, financial and media support to militant groups and accused them of "buying weapons for the benefit of these terrorist organisations.
