LOC20:13
17:13 GMT
ANKARA, Jan 13 (KUNA) -- Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has
warned leader of the Iraqiya List, Ayad Allawi, that Iraq might be slipping
into a civil war because of the political escalation between partners of the
ruling coalition.
Erdogan, in a phone call with Allawi yesterday, expressed concern over the
current sectarian division which might trigger wide-scale chaos, a statement
by the prime minister's office said on Friday.
This chaos, he warned, might cause a sectarian conflict in Iraq thus
trigger "dangerous" regional consequences threatening security and stability
in the region.
Erdogan called for confidence-building measures between all political
forces in the government and parliament, citing the ongoing efforts to launch
an inclusive national dialogue to address the political conflict.
Erdogan urged Allawi to work on defusing the conflict with prime minister
Nouri Al-Maliki, the statement said.
Allawi, said the statement, welcomed Turkey's role to restore security and
stability in Iraq.
Erdogan contacted Al-Maliki two days ago and discussed the political
tension, primarily caused by accusations against some of Iraqiya's cabinet
members of backing terrorism. (end)
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