‘Persian Gulf Arabs destabilizing Iraq’

The Arab states of the Persian Gulf have been conducting a massive campaign to destabilize Iraq since the fall of former dictator Saddam Hussein, Intifad Qanbar of the Iraqi National Alliance told Press TV.

“There’s a huge amount of foreign intervention in Iraq, unfortunately, a lot of it coming from [Persian] Gulf countries who are trying to destabilize Iraq since 2003,” Qanbar said.

He noted that the progress Iraq has made in its transition to democracy, its Shia-dominated government, and its friendly ties with Iran are the main reasons the Persian Gulf Arab states have adopted antagonistic strategies toward the country.

However, he expressed optimism that, through relying on its democratically elected government and parliament, Iraq “will continue to be a successful democracy.”

On Sunday, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki warned against what he calls foreign agendas to exacerbate the country’s political crisis and foment sectarian violence.

Iraq has been the scene of anti-government demonstrations since December 23, when bodyguards of Finance Minister Rafie al-Issawi were arrested on terrorism-related charges.

The demonstrators say the arrests were made based on sectarian biases and are demanding that the anti-terrorism laws be rescinded or revised. But the government says that only the parliament can rescind or revise those laws.

On Wednesday, Maliki said Baghdad would use force to end the demonstrations in Anbar, where protesters have blocked off a highway linking Iraq to Syria and Jordan. The Iraqi government says foreign hands are behind the demonstrations.