Saudi Arabia slams Maliki’s ‘irresponsible’ comments to FRANCE 24

France 24

Speaking to FRANCE 24’s Marc Perelman over the weekend, Maliki accused Saudi Arabia and Qatar of “inciting and encouraging the terrorist movements”. REUTERS Photo

Saudi Arabia responded to a FRANCE 24 interview with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Monday, slamming the Iraqi leader’s accusations that the Gulf kingdom supported terrorism as “aggressive and irresponsible”.

“The Saudi response came two days after the exclusive interview with Maliki was aired on FRANCE 24.

Speaking to FRANCE 24’s Marc Perelman over the weekend, Maliki accused Saudi Arabia and Qatar of “inciting and encouraging the terrorist movements”.

Responding to the accusations on Monday, an unidentified Saudi official told the state SPA news agency that, "The kingdom condemns the aggressive and irresponsible statements made by the Iraqi prime minister".

In his interview with FRANCE 24, Maliki said Saudi Arabia and Qatar were seeking to destabilise Iraq by supporting terrorist groups and providing them with financial support.
Maliki, an Iraqi Shiite politician, said the two Sunni majority Gulf countries were also “supporting terrorism” in Syria and “around the world”.

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