ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who is fighting to stay in power against overwhelming Sunni and Kurdish opposition, warned Arab countries that Iraq’s division would rumble across the region.
“The idea of dividing Iraq will not work out by any means,” he said in his televised weekly speech on Wednesday, as Iraq appeared to be sliding toward splintering into Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish portions.
“The division will not be geographical only, but the people and resources will also divide, he warned. S
Addressing member nations of the Arab League, the Shiite prime minister said: “Do not allow Iraq’s division to take place. The fire of division will spread to other countries.”
Maliki’s comments came a day after Iraqi politicians named a Sunni moderate, Salim al-Jabouri, as the speaker of parliament. But the political bickering over forming a new government has gone nowhere, as Maliki refuses to refrain from a third term in office, despite the turmoil that has shaken the region.
Iraq’s Kurds have announced plans for an independence referendum, and the Sunnis are in a massive rebellion against the Shiite-government in Baghdad, hand-in-hand with jihadi-led rebels who have captured a third of the country.
Maliki confirmed that the presidency of Iraq would still go to a Kurd.
“The Iraqi president should be appointed as soon as possible, and only 15 days are left, I think,” he said.
“The appointed should be a suitable person, and should respect the constitution, the unity of Iraq and be against the division of Iraq. Otherwise we will face problems,” Maliki warned.
The incumbent president, Jalal Talabani, is a Kurd who has been absent and in Germany since a stroke in December 2012.
Meanwhile, the Kurds – including ministers in the Iraqi cabinet – have disengaged from Baghdad completely, following accusations by Maliki that Erbil was harboring Islamic extremists.
So far the candidate for Iraq’s presidency has not been confirmed by the Kurds, but many have hinted that Barham Salih, the former Kurdish prime minister, will most likely be named.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who has backed Maliki’s efforts to keep Iraq united, has also warned that Iraq’s division would lead to “catastrophic consequences.”
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