Iraq’s Zebari quits Arab League meeting

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has ordered the country’s Foreign Minister to quit an Arab League ministerial meeting held in Libya.

Hoshyar Zebari quit the meeting in protest to a meeting granted by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to a delegation of Iraqi opposition figures, a top Arab diplomat told AFP on Thursday.

Gaddafi received a high-ranking delegation of Iraqi opposition leaders this week, including former oil minister Issam Shalabi and ex-members of the outlawed Baath party.

Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh condemned the meeting on Wednesday, describing it as “undiplomatic” and an “insult” to the people of Iraq.

Arab League chief Amr Moussa and a number of Arab foreign ministers met with Zebari on Thursday to convince the Iraqi foreign minister to remain for the summit, to be held on Saturday and Sunday.

The Iraqi Foreign Minister has reportedly said he has no choice but to return home.

Al-Maliki also ordered the Iraqi delegation to the Arab summit be scaled back, leaving behind Iraq’s permanent representative to the Arab League.