BAGHDAD: Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki accused Saudi Arabia of supporting global “terrorism,” both inside the Arab world and in other countries, in an interview broadcast on Saturday. Maliki, in an interview with France 24, slammed “the dangerous Saudi stance” of supporting “terrorism in the world – it supports it in Syria and Iraq and Lebanon and Egypt and Libya and even in countries outside” the Arab world.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar are destabilising Iraq by supporting militant groups and have effectively declared war on the country.

“They are attacking Iraq, through Syria and in a direct way, and they announced war on Iraq,” the premier said.

“These two countries are primarily responsible for the sectarian and terrorist and security crisis of Iraq.” Maliki, a Shia Arab, said accusations that he was marginalising Iraq's Sunni minority, were being pushed by “sectarians with ties to foreign agendas with Saudi and Qatari incitement.”

He said Riyadh and Doha were providing political, financial and media support to militant groups and accused them of “buying weapons for the benefit of these terrorist organisations.”—AFP