Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH – Saudi Arabia called on Monday for the quick formation of a national consensus government in Iraq, blaming Baghdad's sectarian policies against Sunni Arabs for the unrest now sweeping the country. The weekly session of the Council of Ministers, chaired by Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz, also warned against foreign meddling in Iraq after rebels took control of vast swathes of territory north of Baghdad in a matter of days. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdulaziz Khoja said that the Cabinet voiced the Kingdom's deep concern over the latest developments in Iraq, saying that the unrest could not have taken place if it was not for the sectarian and exclusionary policies implemented in Iraq over the past years that threatened its security, stability and sovereignty. While emphasizing the need to preserve Iraq's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, the Cabinet rejected foreign intervention in Iraq's internal affairs. It also called on all Iraqis to start taking actions to ensure the real participation of all segments of people to determine the future of their country. Dr. Khoja said the Cabinet stressed that there should be equality among all sections of people in running the state's affairs, in addition to initiating the required political and constitutional reforms to achieve this. The Cabinet urged quick formation of a national consensus government so as to work on the restoration of the strife-torn country's security and stability, and eschew the policies based on inflaming religious and sectarian sentiments being practiced in Iraq. Dr. Khoja said the Cabinet also emphasized the significance of exerting all efforts to protect the lives of civilians and alleviate their sufferings. Meanwhile, Arab foreign ministers are set to meet this week in Saudi Arabia to discuss what the Arab League on Monday called the “critical situation” in Iraq. The talks on Wednesday and Thursday come as Baghdad battles a lightning offensive by militants advancing on Baghdad after seizing parts of the north, including Iraq's second-largest city Mosul. Iraqi security forces on Saturday launched a counter-offensive, recapturing two towns north of the capital. Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Al-Arabi said the meeting in Jeddah will “study developments in the critical situation in Iraq and the steps that need to be taken to deal with it,” a statement said. Arabi expressed the League's “extreme concern... over the increase of terrorist operations against Iraqis and the targeting of a number of Iraqi cities.” Anti-government fighters, led by the powerful Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militant group, are said to have killed scores of Iraqi soldiers during their offensive, a “horrifying” massacre that has drawn international condemnation. – With agencies
