’Turkey would not remain silent of a sectarian conflict in Iraq’

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan warned Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Tuesday that Turkey would not remain silent if he pursued a sectarian conflict in his country and said Ankara did not favour any ethnicity or sect in the region.

BAGHDAD HAS ACCUSED ANKARA OF MEDDLING
Erdogan’s warning was the latest in a war of words between the two neighbours that has added to already heightened regional tension. Turkey fears Iraq is heading towards a full-scale sectarian war while Baghdad has accused Ankara of meddling.

ERDOGAN: "IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO REMAIN SILENT"
"Esteemed Maliki should know this, if you start a period of conflict in Iraq within a sectarian struggle, it will be impossible for us to remain silent," Erdogan told his AK Party parliamentary group in the Turkish capital.

Iraq summoned the Turkish ambassador in Baghdad last week to complain about comments by some Turkish officials it said amounted to interfering in its internal affairs.

While Iraq did not specify what Turkish remarks they were angry about, the complaint appeared to stem from comments this month by Erdogan, who said a Sunni-Shi’ite conflict in Iraq, if unleashed, could engulf the entire Islamic world.

Fears of renewed sectarian conflict in Iraq have increased since U.S. troops withdrew in December and Maliki’s Shi’ite-led government sought the arrest of a Sunni vice president on accusations he ran death squads.

MALIKI DENIES A SECTARIAN AGENDA
Maliki’s government denies it has a sectarian agenda, but the arrest warrant threatens to wreck a fragile ruling coalition that saw Sunni and Kurdish groups join Maliki’s cabinet.

’MAY LEAD TO DISASTER AND CIVIL WAR IN THE REGION’
In an interview with al-Hurra television this month, Maliki said: "Turkey is unfortunately playing a role which may lead to disaster and civil war in the region."

"THAT TURKEY IS BACKING OR AGAINST A PARTICULAR ETHNIC GROUP OR SECT IS OUT OF QUESTION"
On Tuesday, Erdogan described Maliki’s comments about Turkey meddling in Iraq’s affairs as "unfortunate" and "ugly".

"That Turkey is backing or is against a particular ethnic group or sect, whether in Syria or Iraq or in any other country in the region, is out of the question," Erdogan said.

"We see every problem in our region from a position of peace, stability and loyalty."

REUTERS