Iraqi VP Accuses Qatar of Attempting to Divide Iraq like Iran Does

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Iraqi VP Accuses Qatar of Attempting to Divide Iraq like Iran Does



ERBIL—
Iraqi Vice President Ayad Allawi on Saturday accused Qatar of attempting to split his country along sectarian lines while he expressed his support for Arab countries' decision for cutting relations with Doha.

A report by Reuters cited Allawi as telling a press conference in Cairo that in Iraq "Qatar adopted a project similar to that of Iran; to split Iraq into a Sunni region in exchange for a Shi'ite region. Unfortunately, some Arab states were silent when it came to Qatar."

Allawi was in Cairo to meet Egyptian senior officials for discussions over oil and the war in Syria, Yemen and Libya.
"It is time we all spoke honestly and made things clear (to the Qataris) so we can reach some results," he said, "After that confrontation, comes reconciliation."

On Friday Iraqi VP pointed the finger at Iran for obstructing efforts to overcome the sectarian divide in Iraq ahead of Iraq's parliamentary elections in 2018.

"Iran has been interfering even in the decision (making process) of the Iraqi people," Allawi told Reuters. "We don't want an election based on sectarianism, we want an inclusive political process ... we hope that the Iraqis would choose themselves without any involvement by any foreign power."

Accusing Qatar of supporting terrorism and Iranian agendas, several Arab countries, led by Saudi Arabia, have broken off ties with Qatar and imposed sanctions on the country.

Allawi's position with regard to Qatar is different than that of the Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi who has so far refused to take sides in the rift. Abadi has reiterated the measures against Doha affect the people of Qatar not its government.

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