Stay out of Iraq's internal politics, Shiite politician warns neighbors

[seemslikeadream]

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/12/26/africa/ME_GEN_Iraq_Neighbors.php

CAIRO, Egypt: A leading Iraqi Shiite politician warned neighboring countries to stay out of Iraq's internal politics but said they should do more to prevent terrorists from illegally entering Iraq.

The remarks by Khaled al-Attiya, the deputy speaker of the Iraqi parliament, came two days after former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said he was trying to organize a conference among major Arab states where he hopes to persuade them to help restore order in Iraq.

"We refuse to internationalize the problem or take it outside Iraq," al-Attiya told reporters after discussions with the Arab League's Secretary-General Amr Moussa. "This will not solve the problem but take (Iraq) backward," he said.

Al-Attiya, a leading figure in the Shiite United Iraqi Alliance is in Cairo for talks with league and Egyptian officials on the violence in Iraq. He said he was asking Arabs to support the Iraqi government.

Iraq's neighbors should be "keen to maintain Iraq's sovereignty and prevent attempts by terrorists to infiltrate (Iraq) to sabotage the political process."

[dave_p]

1. Huh?

He's in Cairo discussing Iraq and declaring that "We refuse to internationalize the problem or take it outside Iraq"?

Poor IHT, it is having a tough news day.

[stillcool]

2. For real?...

more from article:

Al-Attiya, a leading figure in the Shiite United Iraqi Alliance is in Cairo for talks with league and Egyptian officials on the violence in Iraq. He said he was asking Arabs to support the Iraqi government.

Iraq's neighbors should be "keen to maintain Iraq's sovereignty and prevent attempts by terrorists to infiltrate (Iraq) to sabotage the political process."
What is happening in Iraq will reflect on its neighbors. Arabs and Muslims should not wait until civil strife" spreads to their countries, al-Attiya said.

Al-Attiya did not mention Allawi but apparently he was referring to his proposal for a U.N.-backed regional conference to stabilize Iraq. Shiite and Kurdish leaders of the current Iraqi government are either lukewarm or hostile to the idea for fear that Arab Sunni dominated governments will take sides with their coreligionists in Iraq.