Saudi official fears Iraq conflict will spread
Saudi Arabia-Regional, Politics, 4/20/2006

"Recent statements by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on the Iraq's Shiaas were the strongest and most positive statements and have sought to maintain the identity of the Iraqi people," said yesterday Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal.

Al-Faisal noted, at a joint press conference with visiting British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw that, by his remarks, Mubarak asserted that the Iraq's Shiites should be loyal to no country but their own. Mubarak's statement was misunderstood, he added.

Previously, Saudi officials have said that the US by its action had handed Iraq to Iran in reference to Iran's build up of influence among the Shiites.

Today, the British Telegraph reported that al-Faisal said "Civil war is a war between civilians and there is already war between civilians.. The threat of break-up in Iraq is a huge problem for the countries of the region, especially if the fighting is on a sectarian basis. This type of fighting sucks in other countries."

Al-Faisal called for a unified and strong Iraqi government that represents all Iraqis without exception.

He further underlined that withholding assistance from the Palestinians will add to their suffering. He criticized Israel's unilateral measures in the Palestinian territories.

Al-Faisal underlined, at his joint press conference with visiting British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, the importance of freeing the entire Middle East, Israel-included, from all weapons of mass destruction.

When seeking to persuade Iran to renounce its nuclear program, the international community should apply the same rule to Israel, he pointed out, asserting all countries' right to obtain nuclear energy for peaceful purposes under international supervision.

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