LOC22:23
19:23 GMT
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Oct 3 (KUNA) -- A Saudi official denied Sunday Iraqi
press reports that Saudi Arabia was satisfied with the nomination of outgoing
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki for a new term in office.
"Based on its principled stance of not interfering in the internal affairs
of any country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has never expressed its opinion on
this issue," Saudi Press Agency (SPA) quoted the source, without identifying
him, as saying.
"What has been circulated by the Iraqi media is a sheer lie and has no
grain of truth," the source affirmed.
"To choose a prime minister of Iraq is a domestic affair for the Iraqi
people to decide. We only hope for stability and security in sisterly Iraq,"
the source added.
Late last week, the mainly-Shiite National Iraqi Alliance (NIA) has picked
Al-Maliki for the top post in a bid to break the standoff stemming from the
March 7 legislative elections.
However, the move was firmly opposed by the Iraqiya List, a coalition of
predominantly secular parties led by former prime minister Iyad Allawi which
emerged as largest bloc at the Council of Representatives after the last vote.
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